FG Rolls Out Ambitious Soil Rescue Plan to Save Farmlands, Boost Food Security and Fight Climate Change

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

In a bold move to tackle declining agricultural productivity and looming climate threats, the Federal Government has launched a nationwide soil health assessment aimed at restoring degraded farmlands, boosting food production, and meeting Nigeria’s climate commitments.

The initiative, unveiled in Abuja, marks a major step toward transforming the country’s agricultural sector through science-driven policies and targeted investments designed to improve soil quality and farmers’ yields.

The development was disclosed in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of the Department of Information.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described the programme as a critical intervention, warning that Nigeria’s food security is under serious threat if urgent action is not taken.

“We convene today because a nation that is unable to feed itself cannot secure its future. No nation can sustain itself without healthy soil,” Abdullahi said.

The Readiness Assessment for the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), developed in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ and other partners, is designed to map soil degradation nationwide, establish 774 soil testing laboratories—one in each local government area—and deploy a digital Nigeria Soil Information System (NISIS).

According to the minister, years of nutrient depletion, erosion, and climate stress have left vast portions of Nigeria’s farmland exhausted, posing a direct threat to national food production and economic stability.

“If we do not take decisive action, we risk failing to meet our climate targets and agricultural policy goals,” he warned.

Abdullahi explained that the scheme would eliminate guesswork in farming by providing farmers with Soil Health Cards and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations, replacing the long-standing practice of generic fertilizer application.

He added that the assessment would guide government spending by identifying priority areas where investments would yield the highest returns in productivity, nutrition, and climate resilience.

The initiative is also expected to play a central role in Nigeria’s climate strategy, particularly under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), with agriculture targeted to contribute to emission reductions through improved soil management.

“Healthy soils sequester carbon, reduce emissions, and lower dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This is not just about farming—it is about climate action,” the minister noted.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, represented by Director of Farm Input Support Services, Mr. Abana Waziri Abba, emphasized the importance of data-driven planning in agriculture.

“We cannot effectively manage what we do not measure. The time for planning without evidence is over,” he said.

He outlined plans to deploy mobile soil testing kits, train thousands of extension agents as “Soil Doctors,” and create a real-time digital soil map linked to weather data to support farmers’ decision-making.

Development partners also threw their weight behind the initiative, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pledging continued technical support to strengthen Nigeria’s soil health systems and enhance food production.

The government has set ambitious targets for 2027, including reaching 10 million farmers with soil-based advisory services, improving five million hectares of farmland, and cutting post-harvest losses by 30 percent across key value chains.

Abdullahi called on state governments, private investors, and development partners to align with the programme, stressing that collective action is essential to its success.

“The soils of Borno differ from those of Lagos. Our solutions must reflect these realities. This is a national effort that requires shared responsibility,” he said.

The Federal Government reaffirmed that the soil health scheme is a cornerstone of its broader agricultural reform agenda, aimed at transitioning Nigeria from subsistence farming to a commercially viable and climate-resilient agricultural economy.