The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has successfully restored 160,000 hectares of degraded land in Nigeria, strengthening food security efforts across the country.
Cyril Bikom, Agriculture Expert Advisor to the National Project Coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He noted that ACReSAL, a six-year project launched in late 2021, is addressing land degradation and climate change across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to Bikom, the project aims to restore one million hectares of degraded land, including abandoned farmlands and areas affected by erosion, desertification, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
It is structured into four components: dryland management, community climate resilience, institutional strengthening, and a contingent emergency response mechanism.
Beyond land restoration, ACReSAL is equipping farmers with smart agricultural techniques through capacity-building programs.
The project, primarily implemented at the state and community levels, is funded by the World Bank, with counterpart funding from the Federal Government.
Bikom highlighted the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) as a key initiative ensuring financial support for farmers, with loan disbursements monitored for effective recovery.
He also commended the Federal Government for providing critical infrastructure such as solar-powered boreholes for irrigation and essential agricultural inputs.
He revealed that the project incorporates intercropping to improve soil fertility, aligning with the Federal Government’s broader agricultural agenda.
However, ACReSAL is working with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to secure 350,000 hectares of degraded land for restoration.
Led by the Federal Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, and Water Resources and Sanitation, ACReSAL operates as a multi-sectoral initiative.
The project is targeting 20 strategic catchments—one per state—and 200 micro-catchments, with 10 per state, to promote sustainable land management and boost agricultural productivity.
