The Federal Government has emphasized the importance of prioritizing soil health and climate-smart agriculture to bolster the nation’s food and nutrition security. This call was made by the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, CON, during the 48th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN) held at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja.
With the theme “Soil Health and Climate-Smart Agriculture for Resilient Food Security System,” the conference highlighted the critical role of soil health as the foundation of sustainable agriculture and the necessity of climate-smart practices for adapting to climate change. Sen. Abdullahi underscored the vulnerability of soil due to climate change and land degradation, which threaten ecosystem services, including food security, water quality, human health, and livelihoods.
In his address, Sen. Abdullahi echoed concerns raised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) about the impacts of desert encroachment, coastal flooding, and seasonal floods on Nigeria’s agricultural land. The Minister stressed that addressing these challenges requires new knowledge, innovations, skills, technology, and a shift in value orientation.
He outlined several climate-smart agricultural practices, such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, agroforestry, reforestation, cultivation of climate-resilient crops, integrated pest management, and nutrient management. The Minister also introduced the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS) as a key initiative to promote sustainable agriculture. This scheme aims to improve soil health and fertility, boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security and nutrition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Sen. Abdullahi called for strong collaboration and synergy among stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives, emphasizing the collective power to create a resilient food security system.
Mr. Olanipekun Oshadiya, Director of the Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services Department, highlighted the conference’s focus on discussing soil health and climate change’s implications for agriculture and public well-being. The event aimed to bring together key stakeholders to underscore the importance of maintaining and improving soil health for sustainable agricultural growth.
Prof. Jibrin Mohammed Jibrin, President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, commended the Ministry for its support and the initiation of the soil health card scheme. He noted that the scheme would promote sustainable soil management practices tailored to specific sites and crops.
The conference featured a presentation of a plaque and the SSSN proceedings to Sen. Abdullahi. Attendees included representatives from the World Bank, Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (Acresal), OCP Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Indorama, and other key stakeholders in agriculture and soil science.
