FG partners GIZ, others to boost agricultural production

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and other relevant stakeholders has entered into partnership to implement the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme.

A statement from the agriculture ministry said the partnership aims to improve agricultural productivity and ensure a food-secure future for the country.  The statement was issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking during the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme Development and Implementation Workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the NFSHCS would lead to cost reduction in farming activities, increase agricultural productivity, high income and profit for Nigerian farmers.

Kyari was represented by the Director, Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun.

The minister revealed that the NFSHCS would promote site and crop-specific, sustainable soil health management practices and seamless application of fertilizers, among others.

Kyari said, “Healthy soil is rich in organic matter and mineral resources thereby providing optimal support for plant growth and maximum productivity.”

He added that healthy soil would ensure clean air, quality water, bountiful crop yield, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.

He further revealed that NFSHCS would provide online delivery of soil health cards to Nigerian farmers by using soil health card portals. He pointed out that the scheme would 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, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the scheme would ensure a single window approach from collection to issuing of Soil Health Cards to Nigerian farmers to avoid unnecessary delays.

He added that the SHC would have information on soil health through 12 parameters, including macro and micronutrient PH levels and organic content.

One of the stakeholders, a representative of the Institute of Agriculture Research & Training, Dr Aduramigba Vincent, said the implementation of the scheme would reduce input costs 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, Food and Agriculture Organization), Institute of Agriculture Research and Training, among others.

Okechukwu Nnodim

Okechukwu, a journalist with Punch Newspapers, has 15 years experience covering Energy (Power and Petroleum), Finance, Agriculture, Environment, Humanitarian Services, Works and Housing, Trade and Investment, Capital Markets, Aviation and Transport, ICT, among others