By Boluwatife Adedokun
When the Federal Government announced its National Soil Health Strategyearlier this year—an ambitious plan touted to boost crop yields and secure food production, many Nigerian farmers tuned in, hoping for a lifeline.
In an interview with The Harbinger, Peace Udofia, a female Agripreneur and founder of Agrofem Global Hub, a thriving agricultural venture based in Akure, Ondo State shared her concern.
Weeks after the announcement, Udofia, like many grassroots farmers, still finds herself asking: “How do we access this plan?”
“If it is not an ‘audio project’, as in a mere press release with no implementation—then the government should have created clear, accessible channels to engage with us,” she told The Harbinger .
Udofia’s concern isn’t unique. It echoes a deeper issue: why do so many well-intentioned government-led agricultural schemes fail to reach the soil they’re meant to heal?
A Disconnect Between Policy and Practice
Nigeria’s agricultural sector has long been riddled with top-down initiatives that never quite reach the farmers tilling the land. The Soil Health Initiative, launched by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, promises to address land degradation and boost yields across the country’s farmlands. Yet, the plan lacks one crucial component: accessibility.
“There should be a link, a ladder, that connects the federal announcement to the actual farmers in the states and local governments. Right now, there is none.” Udofia emphasized.
She described the current situation as disjointed. “Unless someone starts personally calling different government agencies to ask if the initiative is coming to their state, they’ll remain uninformed.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t a new phenomenon. In the past, many farmers, especially women-led enterprises, have struggled to benefit from agricultural interventions.
The Track Record: What Worked and What Didn’t?
Reflecting on previous agricultural interventions, Udofia noted that most of the government’s past programs revolved around loans and inputs like fertilizers and equipment. While these were beneficial to some, there was often no focus on agronomic practices or sustainable land use, two vital areas affecting long-term productivity.
“They have never been interested in agronomic practices or how primary production is done. What they really used to do is give loans or equipment,” she said.
Indeed, research from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) suggests that many agricultural schemes in Nigeria suffer from poor targeting, lack of transparency, and limited inclusivity, particularly for women and smallholder farmers.
The Soil Struggles Beneath the Crops
Soil degradation is no abstract threat, it’s a crisis. According to a 2023 report by the FAO, Nigeria’s arable land is rapidly deteriorating due to erosion, nutrient depletion, and over-reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Udofia corroborated this, noting that Nigeria’s farmlands are suffering from moderate to severe degradation, affecting staple crops like maize, cassava, and rice.
“Improving soil health alone can boost yields by 20–40%,” she explained, citing results from pilot projects that used compost, legumes, and manure. “I’ve seen maize yields increase by 1–2 tons per hectare using organic amendments.”
Yet, soil health is just one piece of the puzzle. Access to improved seeds, irrigation, pest control, and better market infrastructure all play a role.
Beyond Soil: Crisis in Agriculture
Udofia pointed out several interconnected barriers that continue to hamper productivity in Nigeria:
-
Input Access: Less than 10% of Nigerian farmers use improved seeds due to limited availability.
-
Climate Change: Unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts, worsened by global warming, are reducing yields.
-
Pests & Diseases: Infestations like Fall Armyworm and cassava mosaic virus often wipe out up to 30% of crops.
-
Infrastructure: Post-harvest losses account for 20–40% of food due to poor storage and transport systems.
-
Knowledge Gaps: Less than 15% of rural farmers receive regular extension services or training.
This aligns with findings from the World Bank’s 2022 Nigeria Agricultural Diagnostic Report, which underscored that technical knowledge, not just finance, is the key to unlocking higher productivity.
The Knowledge-Action Gap in Sustainable Soil Management
When asked how informed Nigerian farmers are about soil testing and sustainable soil practices, Udofia admitted that the awareness level remains low, especially among local farmers. While a handful of tech-savvy “agripreneurs” and advocates like Farmer Samson Ogbole and Dr. Talabi are championing sustainable agriculture, many smallholders remain unaware—or unable to practice—soil-friendly farming.
“It’s capital intensive. Even those who know better often cannot afford to do better,” she explained. “That’s where the government should come in—provide equipment, grants, or loans to help farmers transition.”
What Needs to Happen Next
Experts agree that no agricultural revolution can succeed without first closing the gap between policy design and policy execution. For the Soil Health Initiative to have any real impact:
Clear Access Channels: The federal government must provide detailed steps for farmers to join the program—whether through state ministries, local agriculture offices, or online platforms.
Farmer Inclusion: A special focus must be placed on women-led farms and rural agripreneurs who are often sidelined in development conversations.
Soil Health Education: Collaborate with local extension workers and civil society organizations to spread knowledge about soil testing, cover cropping, composting, and organic inputs.
Subsidies for Sustainable Practices: Farmers shouldn’t bear the burden alone. Public-private partnerships can ease the cost of adopting environmentally friendly methods.
Monitoring & Transparency: Use data dashboards and farmer feedback loops to track the reach and effectiveness of the program.
From Launch to Land
Peace Udofia’s voice represents thousands of farmers who remain stuck between hopeful announcements and harsh realities. Without a grounded, inclusive, and practical approach, the Soil Health Initiative risks becoming another “audio project”—heard, but not felt.
“We want to be part of the solution,” Udofia emphasized. “But we need the government to build the bridge from policy to practice.”
As Nigeria continues to battle food insecurity, rising costs, and environmental threats, its agricultural policies must start with one fundamental truth: a healthy soil is only as good as the hands that till it—and those hands need real support, not just rhetoric.
