Ademola Adegoroye is an environmental researcher at the University of Fairfax, Virginia, United States. In this interview, he speaks on how young people and farmers in rural communities can be better equipped in the areas of agricultural economics, environmental and resource management, and corporate operations.
How do you believe sustainable agricultural practices can be effectively integrated into traditional farming systems in Nigeria, particularly among smallholder farmers?
By leveraging community teamwork, utilising indigenous knowledge, and providing tailored education programmes. Additionally, supporting farmers with access to affordable inputs, financial incentives, and market access can encourage adoption, while government policies should promote climate-smart techniques and resource efficiency.
In your research on climate vulnerability among crop farmers in Ondo State, what key socio-cultural factors can help them adapt to climate change?
In that research, the key socio-cultural factors included education, age, marital status, and community teamwork. Educated farmers were more adaptive, younger farmers adopted new techniques more easily, and community collaboration enhanced resilience, while larger households faced more significant adaptation challenges. Larger households face significant challenges in adapting to climate change because they demand more resources, such as food and water, which strains their ability to invest in adaptive strategies. Financial pressure is higher, limiting investments in new techniques or technologies. Although they may have more potential labour, the distribution of tasks and the presence of non-contributing members, such as children or the elderly, can reduce the efficiency of adaptation. Larger households also tend to be more risk-averse, preferring traditional practices over innovative methods due to the higher stakes involved.
Given your extensive background in both academic and professional sectors, how do you see the role of youths evolving in shaping policies and practices in the field of agriculture and environmental management?
Youths are playing a pivotal role in shaping agricultural and environmental policies by driving innovation, leveraging technology, and advocating for sustainability. Their involvement in agritech startups, environmental advocacy, and policy-making, along with their focus on sustainable practices, position them as key players in transforming the sector towards resilience and modernisation.
With the rise of technology and innovation, what role do you think young entrepreneurs can play in transforming agriculture into a more sustainable and profitable sector?
Young entrepreneurs can transform agriculture by driving innovation through technology, such as precision farming, the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable practices like agroforestry. They can introduce new business models, improve market access through digital platforms, and develop eco-friendly solutions that increase productivity and profitability while promoting environmental sustainability.
As an educator, how do you integrate real-world agricultural and environmental challenges into your curriculum to prepare students who are youths for future roles in sustainability?
Integrating real-world agricultural and environmental challenges into the curriculum is essential for preparing students, especially youths, for future roles in sustainability. I focus on creating an immersive learning environment that blends theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experiences that mirror the complexities of the agricultural and environmental sectors.
One of the key strategies I use is project-based learning, where students engage with real-world problems. For example, I might have students design sustainable farming models that address issues such as water scarcity, soil degradation, or crop diversification, encouraging them to apply scientific principles and innovative solutions. These projects are often linked to current global challenges like climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss, giving students a direct understanding of the relevance of their studies. I also emphasise fieldwork and partnerships with local farms, environmental organisations, and agritech companies. Through these collaborations, students gain firsthand experience in sustainable practices, such as organic farming, agroforestry, and renewable energy integration in agriculture.
What strategies do you believe can encourage rural youths to engage in agriculture and environmental conservation as career paths?
There’s a need to highlight agriculture’s profitability, integrate technology, provide access to land and credit, offer vocational training, promote successful role models, and create youth-targeted policies. Fostering entrepreneurial opportunities and environmental stewardship programs can further inspire their involvement.
What key policies do you think should be prioritised in addressing environmental sustainability in Nigeria?
Nigeria should prioritise climate change adaptation, renewable energy development, sustainable land use, water resource management, waste reduction, and circular economy practices. Additionally, promoting environmental education, enforcing pollution controls, protecting coastal ecosystems, and supporting sustainable agriculture are essential for long-term sustainability.
What innovative resource management practices have you encountered that could be adapted to improve food security in Nigeria and other developing countries?
Precision agriculture, agroecology, conservation agriculture, water-efficient irrigation systems, integrated pest management, and post-harvest loss reduction techniques. These approaches optimise resource use, enhance productivity, and build resilience to climate change, thereby improving food security in developing countries. In addition, based on my research on food security titled “Determinants of food security status and coping strategies to food insecurity among rural crop farming households in Ondo State, Nigeria,” the outcome shows that increasing farm size has a positive impact on food security by boosting output, which can enhance food availability. The adoption of improved agricultural technologies is suggested to increase productivity, aligning with precision agriculture and agroecology, which optimise resource use through technology and ecological principles.
During your engagement at the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture, you led innovative agricultural programmes. What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them to ensure community impact?
Several challenges emerged, primarily related to resource limitations, farmer engagement, and infrastructural deficits. Overcoming these challenges required a mix of adaptive strategies, collaboration, and interventions to ensure the programmes had a tangible impact on the communities. These challenges limited access to funding, resistance to new technologies, poor infrastructure, and climate variability. I overcame these by securing microfinance support, providing hands-on training, promoting climate-smart practices, and improving market access through cooperatives and mobile platforms, all of which ensure community impact. Thus, by tackling these challenges through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and targeted interventions, we were able to ensure that the innovative agricultural programmes had a lasting positive impact on the communities in Ondo State.
Based on your international education and work experiences, how do you compare the approaches to sustainability and resource management in Nigeria with those in developed countries like Germany? What lessons can be shared?
The key difference between Germany and Nigeria in that regard largely stems from governance structures, technology adoption, and public engagement. Germany’s approach is comprehensive, with strong policies, technological innovation, and public participation driving sustainability efforts. In contrast, Nigeria’s efforts are often hampered by resource limitations, weak enforcement, and infrastructural challenges.
However, Nigeria can draw valuable lessons from developed countries such as Germany by strengthening policy enforcement, investing in technology and innovation, promoting public awareness, improving infrastructure, and embracing the circular economy. These strategies, if adapted to Nigeria’s unique context, can significantly enhance the country’s approach to sustainability and resource management, ensuring long-term environmental and economic benefits.
How can local communities be better empowered to implement sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in resource-limited settings like rural Nigeria?
For local communities in resource-limited settings like rural Nigeria to implement sustainable agricultural practices, it is crucial to provide practical training and capacity-building programmes tailored to their needs, ensuring access to affordable and eco-friendly resources such as seeds and fertilisers while integrating indigenous knowledge with modern techniques. Additionally, access to markets and financial support through cooperatives, microfinance, and government initiatives can enhance productivity. At the same time, improved infrastructure, including roads and irrigation, alongside technology like mobile platforms for real-time agricultural information, can facilitate more efficient farming. Strengthening land tenure systems to secure farmers’ ownership of land encourages long-term investment in sustainable practices, and governments should incentivize these practices with grants or subsidies.
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