Economic Implications of Environmentally Smart System of Rice Intensification in Nigeria

Rice is a staple food in almost all parts of the world, especially Africa and Asia, as a rich source of carbohydrate. However, rice cultivation contributes greatly to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases involved in soil and plant management, fertiliser application as well as water management practices. While the environmental benefits of environmentally smart rice farming practices in Nigeria have been established, the same has not been for the economic implications of environmentally smart rice farming. Prior to this study, there was inadequate information on the profit margins in different rice production systems in Nigeria. The research aimed at understanding and evaluating the method that gives a higher profit margin while having lesser environmental impact. The study’s primary sources of information require two distinct research methodologies and as such, two major types of data collection methods; qualitative and quantitative as suitable for participatory action research viz- questionnaire, focus group discussion, participant observation and key informant interview. The research findings demonstrate that the environmentally-smart system of rice intensification is more profitable than the conventional method.