The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has announced plans to prioritise soil health from next year to boost yield-per-hectare of farmlands across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this during a meeting with the deputy director-general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Bernard Vanlauwe and senior programme officer for soil health at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in Abuja, Christian Witt.
Abdullahi noted that Nigeria’s crop yield-per-hectare remains below the African average due to poor soil management. He emphasised that enhancing soil health is key to bridging this yield gap, stating, “If you conquer the soil, the yield gap Nigeria is experiencing can be bridged. Farmers producing two tonnes per hectare can achieve 10 tonnes with proper support.”
The minister highlighted the challenges of improper fertiliser use and under-fertilisation in some areas, stressing that addressing these issues would significantly improve food and nutrition security. He added, “Higher yield-per-hectare will not only improve the nutritional status of Nigerians but also contribute to poverty alleviation and economic transformation.”
Abdullahi called on IITA to align its activities with Nigeria’s national interests and collaborate in reviving the country’s six zonal soil laboratories, located at coordinating research institutes. He said the revitalised laboratories would serve both Nigeria and IITA’s Regional Hub.
In response, Vanlauwe expressed IITA’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and ensuring research findings benefit end-users to maximise agricultural output.
Witt, representing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commended Nigeria’s efforts in launching the Nigerian Soil Health Card Scheme this year. He stated his visit aimed to explore the development of a National Soil Information System to support sustainable agricultural practices.
This initiative aligns with the government’s focus on improving agricultural productivity and achieving food security.
