FG set to appropriate fertilizer use on soil

The Federal Government ( FG) under the presidential leadership of Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu ( BAT) has said soil health tests will help to check excessive fertilizer applications to food system productivity.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu speaking through his representative at yesterday's launch in the state house, Abuja said the initiative would help against the arbitrary use of fertilizers by food producers, saying that many of our farms are naturally nutrient sufficient to give yield to crops.

PBAT pointed out that the launch was part of the Renewed Hope promises to sustainable food security with quality nutrients of accurate fertilizers application without abuse.

“With this new soil testing program, farmers now have access to real-time data to determine the exact nutrients their soil needs," adding that “This will eliminate wasteful use of fertilizers, reduce costs, and enhance productivity."

To ensure that the scheme reaches its full potential, President Tinubu also called for the immediate translation of the soil document into a simplified format with major local languages farmers can easily understand at the grassroots.

Speaking at the event virtually, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari said that the initiative is part of the FG strategy to rebuild the foundation of the country’s agricultural system, stressed that " We are taking decisive steps to heal our soil, increase productivity, and make agricultural science accessible to every farmer."

State Minister, FMAFS Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, noted that the programme has already started in 11 states across the six geopolitical zones, and pointed it would be expanded in phases.

“This is not just a one-time project. It’s the beginning of a government-supported service for smallholder farmers that will transform our food system," Abdullahi said.

He also noted that the scheme supports the goals of the Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health, which Nigeria adopted in May 2024 alongside other African nations.

Adding her voice to the conversations, Hon. Perpetual Okafor, a woman farmer in the FCT, commended the FG for the initiative but emphasized the need for robust farmers' education.

Also, the farmers' representative on the occasion Arc. Kabir Ibrahim,  applauded the newly launched agricultural initiative, describing it as a transformative step toward achieving food security and self-sufficiency in Nigeria.

Ibrahim noted that Nigeria is richly endowed with vast arable land and favorable agro-climatic conditions, which, if properly harnessed through the effective implementation of the scheme, could position the country as the food basket of Africa.

He stated that  “Nigeria has all it takes, fertile land, capable farmers, and the human capital to lead the continent in agricultural production. This new scheme, if diligently pursued, will not only boost food availability but also create jobs and strengthen our rural economies.”