Stakeholders Urge Govt to Prioritize Soil Health for Food Security

… As Experts attributes soil degradation, insecurity, soil fertility depletion as major contributors to Food Insecurity

… As they advocates for sustainable agricultural practices

Stakeholders are urging the government to launch sensitization programs to educate farmers on the importance of soil testing which is aimed at addressing the alarming rate of soil degradation, which is severely impacting agricultural production and exacerbating food insecurity in Nigeria.

The call was made at A 3 Days Workshop on Sensitization and Advocacy on the need to set-up Laboratories in each Local government in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Speaking with Newsmen The Assistant Chief Administration Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Climate Change, Dr. Wasiu Oyeleke emphasized that soil degradation, coupled with insecurity, has led to the current state of hunger and skyrocketing food prices in Nigeria.

He lamented that soil’s fertility has been depleted due to continuous use and increasing population, rendering it unable to support agricultural production.

According to Dr. Oyeleke, he explained that the soil testing initiative seeks to reduce blanket fertilizer application and promote modern farming practices.

He urged the government to support farmers through sensitization programs, ensuring they understand the importance of soil health.

Dr. Oyeleke also emphasized that farming should be seen as a commercial and poverty eradication tool, providing employment opportunities for youth and meeting household needs.

He stressed the importance of soil testing, likening it to medical diagnosis. “We need to know our soil, what it has, what it lacks, and what we need to add to make it better” Dr. Oyeleke said.

Speaking with Journalist at the program, The resource person invited for the program, An Associate Professor of Soil Fertility, Professor Vincent Modupe stressed that soil health is crucial for understanding the nutrients and type of crops the soil can absorb.

He advised farmers to conduct soil testing before planting to ensure healthy plants and bountiful harvests, ultimately helping to alleviate food insecurity.

According to Prof. Modupe, soil provides the necessary resources, nutrients, and structure for plant growth and development, leading to economic development and prosperity for farmers.

He noted that the federal government launched the National Farmers Soil Health Cast Skills program, which is aimed at providing each farmer in Nigeria with a unique soil health card.

Prof. Modupe explained that the program is designed to ensure that every farmer in Nigeria has access to secure information about their soil, leading to improved productivity and food security.

He concluded that he expects that within two years, farmers who adopt the approach of soil testing will start seeing significant results, including bumper harvests.

Speaking at the program, An Assistant Director in the Ministry’s Department of Agriculture, Land and Climate Change, Mrs Afolabi Idowu attributed the lack of soil testing as a major problem facing farmers in the country.

“We don’t see testing of the soil as important before we plant or apply fertilizer, which is very dangerous to what we are eating, ” She said.

Mrs Idowu explained that soil testing is essential to determine the nutrient status of the soil, enabling farmers to apply the right type and amount of fertilizer.

“If you don’t test the soil and apply fertilizer blanketly, the soil will not be able to utilize it, and it will be washed away, affecting water bodies and living things” She warned.

The Assistant Director emphasized that laboratory soil testing is crucial for achieving food security.
“We are not food secure if we don’t work with testing of our soil, ” She said.
“Proper soil analysis will inform you of the problems the soil is encountering, and what you need to do to address them”.

Mrs Idowu urged farmers to prioritize soil testing to ensure a bountiful harvest and contribute to the country’s food security.

The representative of conference of Directors of Agriculture in Oyo state, Mrs Adeola Akanni also emphasized the importance of soil testing of farmers noting that it determines the status of the soil and its ability to support healthy plant growth.

She explained that soil testing has numerous benefits, including boosting food security, reducing farming costs, and promoting a healthy environment and human population.

Mrs Akanni expressed that soil testing helps to identify depleted nutrients in the soil, which can be replaced using organic or inorganic methods.

She further attributed foid insecurity to the inability to conduct soil testing, emphasizing that specific soils and nutrients are required for specific crops.

Mrs Akanni, however, advised farmers to test their soil to avoid wasting of money on unnecessary fertilizers, adding that soil testing would enable them to determine the right amount and type of fertilizer to use.

She noted that inorganic fertilizers have negative side effects on the environment and urged farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

Mrs Akanni also called on the government to collaborate with estate developers to release agrarian land for agricultural purposes.

She lamented the practice of building estates on fertile land, describing it as a waste of valuable resources.

The 3- Days Workshop program was organized by Rush Calm Engineering Limited in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to end food insecurity across the country.

By prioritizing soil health and providing farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge, Nigeria can take a significant step towards addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable agricultural development.