Abuja: The Federal Government has urged members of the National Assembly to include the establishment of soil laboratories in all 774 local government areas of Nigeria as part of their constituency projects. This call was made by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, during the Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel Workshop on the ‘Nigeria Soil Information System (SIS) Development’ held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the SIS workshop was organized by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with its partners. Abdullahi emphasized that establishing these laboratories would facilitate soil testing, ensuring soil health, and contributing to a sustainable food system. He highlighted that this initiative would help Nigeria transform its food system, ensuring sustainable food security. Abdullahi described the SIS as a transformative tool in restoring degraded land.
Abdullahi further stated that the Federal Government is collaborating with the regional hub located at IITA and the International Soil Reference Information Centre (ISRIC) to support these efforts. He noted that Nigeria has 73 million hectares of land, out of which only 34 million hectares are currently cultivated. He stressed the need for investor collaboration to fully utilize the country’s agricultural potential. He pointed out that meeting global standards for soil health and quality food is crucial for attracting investors to Nigeria.
The minister also discussed the National Farmers Soil Health Scheme, which aims to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Abdullahi expressed concern over the lack of attention given to soil health, which is fundamental to agriculture. He stated that the scheme would enable experts to provide farmers with precise recommendations on crop types and fertilizer nutrients required for specific soils.
Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe, Deputy Director General, R4D, IITA, shared insights on the regional hub for fertilizer, an initiative of the ECOWAS Director of Agriculture. He explained that the hub would provide technical assistance and support to 17 countries in West Africa and the Sahel. The hub aims to ensure the Nigerian soil information system utilizes the best available technologies and continuously incorporates new technology and science.
Vanlauwe also outlined the hub’s role in standardizing soil measurement procedures across the region, which will facilitate regional comparisons and analyses. He emphasized the importance of capacity development, highlighting the transfer of new methods, tools, and equipment to universities and national agriculture systems in Nigeria. The hub aims to work with all stakeholders to promote new ways of conducting agricultural business.