The Federal Government has launched the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), an initiative designed to improve soil fertility, enhance crop yields, and reduce production costs for farmers nationwide.
Unveiled at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of State has described the programme for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi, as a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to revitalise Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
The NFSHS has been developed to transform farmers’ soil management by encouraging scientific soil testing, data-driven fertiliser use, and evidence-based agricultural decisions. The scheme seeks to tackle challenges such as low productivity, high input costs, and indiscriminate fertiliser application that have long hindered sustainable growth in the sector.
“Farming begins with the soil. It is the quiet partner in every harvest. For too long, our soils have given without rest,” said Senator Sabi. “The Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme will help farmers understand what their soil truly needs, eliminating guesswork and promoting smarter farming.”
A major feature of the programme is the establishment of 774 soil testing laboratories, one in each Local Government Area, to ensure nationwide access for farmers.
Each participating farmer will receive a personalised soil health card detailing fertility status, pH levels, and fertiliser recommendations suited to specific crops.
The initiative also includes the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS), a digital platform consolidating national soil data to guide farm-level and policy-level decisions.
The NFSHS will operate through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, involving federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as international development partners and research institutions.
Supporting organisations include GIZ, the World Bank (ACReSAL Project), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IITA, AGRA, and Soil Values.
According to the Minister, the project has already achieved several milestones since its inception in 2023, including pilot soil assessments in 11 states, developing the Soil Health Card, and integrating the scheme into the ECOWAS Regional Fertiliser Hub.
Senator Sabi outlined the initiative’s wide-ranging benefits, including higher farmer income, lower input costs, and enhanced food security through reduced reliance on imports.
The scheme will also create jobs for rural youth and women, particularly in the operation of soil laboratories, while promoting climate-resilient agriculture and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“By embracing soil-specific fertiliser recommendations, our farmers can double their yields, turning 60 bags of rice per hectare into 120, and maize from 50 bags to 100. This is about prosperity, not just productivity,” he said.
The NFSHS reflects Nigeria’s commitment to the Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health, endorsed by African Heads of State in May 2024.
It also aligns with the Joint Development Partners Declaration on sustainable fertiliser use and soil restoration across the continent.
Senator Sabi confirmed that soil health would now be integrated into national agricultural policies, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security developing a Nigerian Agricultural Soil Management Policy for Sustainability.
He emphasised that the scheme embodies the Tinubu administration’s drive for food sovereignty and economic resilience, ensuring that Nigerian farmers produce more and sustainably.
“When a farmer understands their soil, they can plan better, harvest better, and pass on healthier land to their children. When we care for the soil, the soil cares”
Source: Tribune Online
Image Credit: FMAFS
