Nigeria is set to embark on nationwide audit, to map soil degradation, drought and erosion, align it with public spending, as well as climate smart commitments.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, who made this known at Nigeria’s Readiness Assessment Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, said the move would save farmlands, meet climate goals, restore soil nutrients and ensure soil specific fertilizers for the attainment of food security
Soil serves as the cornerstone of food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity.
However, years of nutrient depletion, erosion, and climate-related stress have left a significant portion of Nigeria’s farmland exhausted.
This Abdullahi wants upturned, for increased food production.
The soil scheme will ensure that 10)million farmers receive advisory services on soil tests, five million hectares managed with improved soil practices, Digital Soil Health Cards distributed to farmers across all 774 Local Government Areas and reduced Postharvest losses by 30%.
At the end of the implementation, it is expected that Nigeria will achieve a total reduction of 0.4% emission, diminish nitrous oxide emissions, healthy soils sequester carbon, and lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizers by 2035.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
