By Victoria Onehi
To improve productivity in the Agricultural sector,the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and other stakeholders have strategised to implement the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS).
Speaking during the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil health Card Scheme Development and Implementation Workshop held in Abuja, recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, stated that NFSHCS would lead to cost reduction in farming activities, increase agricultural productivity, high income and profit for Nigerian Farmers.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun,
revealed that the NFSHCS would promote site and crop specific, sustainable soil health management practices and seamless application of fertilizers, among others.
Kyari stated: “Healthy soil is rich in organic matter and mineral resources thereby providing optimal support for the plant growth and maximum productivity.”
In a statement, the minister added that healthy soil would ensure clean air, quality water, bountiful crops’ yield, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
He further revealed that NFSHCS would provide online delivery of soil health cards to the Nigerian farmers by using soil health card portals. He pointed out that the scheme would also provide soil testing facilities and data based on the fertility status of Nigeria soil.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi pointed out that the scheme would ensure a single window approach from collection to issuing of Soil Health Card (SHC) to Nigerian farmers to avoid unnecessary delays.
He added that the SHC would have information on soil health through 12 parameters, including Macro and Micronutrients ph levels and organic content.
One of the stakeholders, a representative of the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training, IAR&T, Dr. Aduramigba Vincent stated that the implementation of the scheme would reduce input cost and increase the production and livelihood of Nigerian farmers.
In attendance were representatives drawn from the Ministry’s Development Partners; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Institute of Agriculture Research and Training (IAR&T), among others.
