STRENGTHENING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE THROUGH CARBON MARKETS IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (NOAN) IN EMPOWERING SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

Abstract

The integration of organic agriculture and carbon finance presents a transformative opportunity for the sustainable development of agriculture in Nigeria. This review examines the role of theAssociation of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria in carbon markets as a mechanism to enhance organic farming systems while economically empowering smallholder farmers. Organic practices such as conservation tillage, composting, forestation, and cover cropping not only promote ecological health but also offer measurable contributions to carbon sequestration. However, the adoption of carbon farming schemes by smallholder organic farmers remains limited due to high certification costs, complex monitoring, reporting, and verification systems, as well as a lack of institutional support. Drawing insights from successful models globally, the paper explores how NOAN can bridge these
gaps by leveraging approaches such as group certification, participatory guarantee systems (PGS), targeted capacity building, and digital tools. Furthermore, the review proposes policy and structural reforms necessary to integrate carbon farming into Nigeria's organic agriculture standards, policies, and national climate strategies. The study concludes that, with strong institutional leadership, inclusive design, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, carbon markets can deliver dual benefits: enhancing environmental sustainability and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.