By Boluwatife Adedokun
The Federal Government is set to roll out the National Farm Soil Health Scheme aimed at improving agricultural productivity across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this during a media briefing at the Centre for Dry Land Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, on the sidelines of the National Conference of the Soil Science Association of Nigeria.
Abdullahi said the initiative will equip farmers with proper agronomy practices and provide access to technology and soil laboratory analysis to better understand and manage soil fertility.
He noted that despite Nigeria having about 73% arable land, only half is currently cultivated, and much of it yields below the African average. For instance, while some African countries produce up to 22,000 tons of maize per hectare, Nigeria manages just 3,000 to 5,000 tons.
Abdullahi identified poor land management, climate change, and excessive use of agrochemicals as factors reducing soil nutrients and crop yield.
He also emphasized the need to curb the influence of “portfolio farmers” who exploit government schemes at the expense of genuine farmers.
The Minister highlighted the Green Imperative Project with Brazil, which will scale up mechanization and establish Farmer Service Centres in all LGAs to support real farmers.
