Multiple-year farm-level assessments of trade-offs between GHG emissions and income: case examples of two farming systems in Northern Nigeria

This study quantifies the trade-offs between welfare (measured by income) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in two farming systems of Northern Nigeria using data for 5 years from 2015 to 2019. The analyses employ a farm-level optimization model that maximizes the value of production less purchased input costs for agricultural activities including the production of trees, sorghum, groundnut or soybeans, and multiple livestock species. We compare income and GHG emissions without constraints to scenarios requiring reductions in emissions of either 10% or the maximum reduction feasible while maintaining minimum household consumption levels. For both locations and all years, we find that reductions in GHG emissions would lower household incomes and require substantive modifications to production patterns and input use. However, the extents to which reductions are possible and the patterns of income-GHG trade-offs vary, indicating that such effects are site-specific and time-variable. The variable nature of these trade-offs suggests challenges for the design of any program that would seek to compensate farmers for reductions in their GHG emissions.

Automated summary

This study examines the trade-offs between income and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in two farming systems in Northern Nigeria. The findings show that reductions in GHG emissions would decrease household incomes and require changes in production patterns and input use. However, the extent of reductions and the trade-offs between income and GHG emissions vary, suggesting that these effects are site-specific and time-variable.