ILWAC: IAR&T provides soil management tools for climate challenges, 10,000 farmers’ benefits

L-R Prof Akinyemi Olayinka (Obafemi Awolowo University), Prof Ayo Ogunkunle (University of Ibadan)  Dr Ayo Adegbite ( Deputy Director, IAR&T),Prof James Adediran (Director, IAR&T)and Prof Akin Oluwatosin (Head, South West, Farming System Research and Extension) at the programme marking 2015   International Year of Soils held at Training hall, IAR&T Moor Plantation, Ibadan

The Nigerian team of Integrated Land and Water Management for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change (ILWAC) championed by IAR&T has provided scientific equipments that farmers can use for the management of soil against vagaries of climate change. 

Speaking at the ILWAC midterm review recently held, the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan Prof. James Adediran said the Nigeria team has recorded a lot of research progress through construction of check dams and water pans for the purposes of mitigating the climate change challenges on soil management for food production in the country. 

Adediran said “since the inception of the project in 2013 the team had made a lot of progress which include establishment of sustainable partnership for innovations in soil and water management. Appropriate tools for soil resource mapping were developed and promoted while technologies for soil-water-nutrient management were identified and promoted” 

He noted that his Institute’s achievement on this ILWAC project has been made possible through a grant funded by CORAL/West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD) adding that the research technologies are aimed to improve agricultural resilience to climatic variability through deployment of modern soil and water management equipments. 

 IAR&T, Nigeria alongside Burkina-Faso and Cote d’ Ivoire in West Africa were the countries given a grant to conduct research on ‘Sustainable Soil-water nutrient management” to checkmate the vagaries of climatic change to agricultural crops and animals productions. 

However, ILWAC Regional Coordinator, Dr Vincent Aduramigba-Modupe has said that no fewer than 10,000 farmers including women have benefit from this project as they have been with inputs, climate SMART soil and water conservation measures. 

He said part of the objective is to provide farmers, especially vegetable farmers with water to use during the dry season.

“The project is on-going in Nigeria, Borkina-faso and Cote d’Ivoire. We plan to upscale the project to more countries in West and Central Africa. We also plan for production of 5000 training manuals, policy briefs and farmers guide; we have more plans but have challenge of restricted use of funds by donor, World Bank and WECARD,” He said.

 Prof Bamidele Omitoyin , head of fishery  and  aquaculture department of University of Ibadan commended the donor and the stakeholders in the project for improving farmers livelihood through the ILWAC project.

In the same vein the IAT&T has also trainedThe Institute of Agricultural Research And Training, Moor Plantation Ibadan as part of the activities marking the 2015 international Year of Soil (IYS) organized seminar with the theme “Healthy soil for healthy life”.

 According to James Adediran, the Institute Director ,two of the specific objectives of the international year of soils are to raise awareness among civil society and decision maker about the profound importance of soil for human life and educate the public about the crucial role soil plays in food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development .It is towards the realization of these noble objectives that the FAO in partnership with the international union of soil science and the soil science society of Nigeria have decided to bring together selected youths and distinguished soil scientists .

Prof James Adediran admonished all participants who were majorly students of tertiary institutions from southwest, Nigeria to rekindle interest in agriculture and soil sciences stressed that is the only way to attain food security is by proper soil management youth involvement.

 The seminar was jointly organized by international Union of Soil Science, Food and Agriculture Organization, Soil Science Society of Nigeria, and the host Institute.