FG partners GIZ to launch Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme
By Kunle Sanni
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and other key stakeholders, has launched the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS) to enhance agricultural productivity and bolster the nation’s food security.
During the recent Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme Development and Implementation Workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Oshadiya Olanipekun, Director of the Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, emphasized the scheme’s potential to lower farming costs, improve agricultural productivity, and increase income and profits for Nigerian farmers.
The NFSHCS is aimed at promoting site-specific, sustainable soil health management practices and ensuring the efficient application of fertilizers, thereby contributing to a more resilient agricultural sector in Nigeria.
Kyari stated, “Healthy soil is rich in organic matter and mineral resources, providing optimal support for plant growth and maximum productivity.”
He added that healthy soil is essential for clean air, quality water, bountiful crop yields, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes.
Kyari further revealed that the NFSHCS would provide online delivery of soil health cards to Nigerian farmers through a dedicated portal. The scheme will also offer soil testing facilities and data based on the fertility status of Nigerian soil.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, noted that the scheme would ensure a streamlined process from the collection to the issuance of Soil Health Cards (SHC) to Nigerian farmers, thereby avoiding unnecessary delays.
He added that the SHC would provide information on soil health through 12 parameters, including macro and micronutrient levels, pH levels, and organic content.
Aduramigba Vincent, a representative from the Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T), stated that the implementation of the scheme would reduce input costs and enhance the productivity and livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Ministry’s development partners, including GIZ, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and IAR&T, among others.
