Federal Government has been urged not to relent in its efforts of sensitizing as well as educating farmers on the importance of soil testing as a way of addressing the increasing rate of soil degradation, affecting agricultural production and food security in the Country.
The Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector made the call at A-3 Day Workshop put together by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and sponsored by Rush Calm Engineering Limited on Sensitization and Advocacy on the Need to set-up Laboratories in each Local Government in Ibadan, Oyo state.
While Speaking, an Assistant Chief Administration Officer of the Department of Agriculture Land and Climate Change, Dr. Wasiu Oyediran maintained that soil degradation coupled with insecurity, has led to the current food scarcity and skyrocketing food prices being faced by Nigerians.
He lamented that soil fertility has been depleted due to continuous use without proper attention, which is causing poor yield of agricultural outputs.
He urged the government to continue to support farmers through sensitization programmes, on the need to adequately understand the importance of soil health.
According to him, the Farmers need to know the soil, what it has, what it lacks, and what they need to add to make it better where necessary, for food sufficiency.
In an address, the Oyo State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Florence Omonele, represented by Alhaja Balikis AbdulLateef said, reviving agricultural sector for it to regain its glory, it requires a collective responsibility of all the stakeholders, describing it as a mainstay of Nation’s Economy before the advent of Crude Oil.
While welcoming the Participants, Director, Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr. Oshadiya Olurotimi who was represented by the 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.
In an interview with Newsmen at the Event, An Associate Professor of Soil Fertility, Obafemi Awolowo University, Vincent Aduramigba-Modupe stressed that soil health is crucial for food production as understanding its nutrients and type of crops that can grow well on it cannot be underestimated.
He advised farmers to conduct soil testing before planting to ensure healthy plants and bountiful harvests, ultimately helping to alleviate food insecurity.
He noted that the federal government launched the National Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme Programme with a view to providing each farmer in Nigeria a unique soil health card.
The Expert explained that the Programme is designed to ensure that every farmer has access to secured information about their soil, leading to improved productivity.
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 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.
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.
On the Training on the use of Soil Health Card, SHC, Modules to Laboratory Technician and Technologists in Ibadan, Oyo State, An Expert, Mr Temitayo Abiri practically showed the Participants on the best way to get the needed sampling and results.
He explained that, Soil should be adequately treated for better results, saying if the farmers follow the processes as expected, there would be food sufficiency within a short period of time across the Country.
Some of the Participants commended the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services for the laudable Programme like this.
They promised to make use of the Training to better the Agricultural Sector and enhance food production.