Stakeholders Urge Govt to Prioritize Soil Health for Food Security

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

… As they advocate 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 Day 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 Oyediran 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. Oyediran, 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. Oyediran 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.

In an address, the Oyo State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Kakulu Omonele, represented by Alhaja Balikis AbdulLateef noted that, reviving agricultural sector and economy in the country is a collective responsibility of various stakeholders, describing agriculture as the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy before the discovery of crude oil.

While welcoming the Participants, Director, Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr. Olurotimi Shodiya who was represented by Personal Assistant to the Director and a Land Resource Officer, Mr Oyegoke Afolabi said, to solve the issue of Soil degradation, there is the need for Soil Health Card Programme, as it will lessen air and water pollution as well as climate change by minimizing the need for inorganic fertilizer.

Speaking with Journalists at the Programme, A Resource Person, An Associate Professor of Soil Fertility, Vincent Aduramigba-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 Dr. Aduramigba-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.

The Expert 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 within two years, he expects farmers who adopt the approach of soil testing to start seeing significant results, including bumper harvests.

Speaking, An Assistant Director in the Ministry’s Department of Agriculture, Land and Climate Change, Mrs Idowu Afolabi 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 Afolabi 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 anyhow, 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 Afolabi 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 food 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.

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