The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has pledged to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) to improve soil health and promote sustainable agricultural production.
Dr. Beatrice Aighewi, Head of Station, IITA Abuja, said this in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS).
StarReporters gathered that NFSHS is a comprehensive soil fertility management programme designed to enhance agricultural land use, promote climate-smart practices, and improve farm productivity. The initiative provides farmers with real-time insights into their soil conditions to boost yields, reduce costs, and enable smarter farming.
Aighewi described IITA as a critical partner with FMAFS in efforts to improve the country’s soils.
“Soil health is essential to food production, so whatever you do you have to put soil health into consideration,” she said.
She added that IITA currently hosts the ECOWAS Centre for Excellence Soil Laboratory in Ibadan, serving as a “Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel.”
“What we are trying to do at the hub is to make sure that the soils in which the farmers are planting are healthy because soils have life. Soil life has to be maintained in a healthy manner to yield good crops, improved incomes, and sustainable livelihoods,” she said.
Aighewi urged farmers to leverage the opportunities provided by NFSHS by visiting soil labs and using the information to improve their yields.
Similarly, Prof. Vincent Aduramigba, Visiting Scientist at the Regional Hub, said the centre provides technical expertise, innovation, and collaboration to strengthen soil fertility, improve food security, and support resilient agricultural practices.
“IITA is providing the technical expertise at the hub to assist Nigerian farmers to improve their livelihood and increase yields through science. We are working with the Federal Government and the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure good agronomy practices and extension services,” he said.
Aduramigba noted that the Federal Government plans to establish 774 soil health laboratories nationwide to enable farmers to access quality soil testing and advisory services, ensuring better crops, improved yields, and sustainable livelihoods.
Also, Prof. Jubril Mohammed Jubril, President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), highlighted the importance of healthy soil for crop and livestock production. He said NFSHS would provide guidance to both farmers and fertiliser companies to produce the right types of fertilisers for appropriate areas in Nigeria.
“Our members are ready to support this initiative, which we have been advocating for a long time, and we are fortunate to see efforts at various levels of government to improve soil health,” he said.
(NAN)