FG targets soil testing in 774 LGAs

The Federal Government has said it is working towards establishing soil-testing facilities across all 774 local government areas in the country to improve fertiliser efficiency, boost crop yields, and strengthen food security.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this at a two-day Fertilizer Summit on Phosphorus and Food Security in Nigeria, organised by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in partnership with OCP Africa in Abuja.

Abdullahi said the initiative, under the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), would enable farmers to make informed decisions on fertiliser application based on the nutrient requirements of their soils.

Represented by the Director, Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Oshadiya Olanipekun, the minister stated, “Our objective is therefore to guarantee that phosphorus incorporated into soil becomes accessible to plants, generates higher crop yields for farmers, and delivers maximum return on every naira spent on fertiliser.”

The minister, who noted that the scheme was launched in October 2025, said the government had made progress in developing Soil Health Cards, establishing the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS), strengthening laboratory capacity, and building partnerships with research institutions and other stakeholders.

He said the scheme was designed to address the practice of farmers applying fertilisers without adequate knowledge of their soil composition, a situation that could increase production costs, reduce fertiliser efficiency, and undermine farm profitability.

“For too long, many Nigerian farmers have been compelled to make fertiliser choices without sufficient knowledge regarding their soil nutrient composition. While general fertiliser recommendation serves useful purposes in certain situations, it frequently fails to account for variations in soil properties, crop specifications and regional agroecological conditions across Nigeria,” the minister added.

According to him, the next phase of the scheme would focus on expanding access to soil-testing services, improving laboratory standards, strengthening agricultural extension services, and ensuring that soil analysis translates into practical recommendations for farmers.

He, however, identified inadequate funding, gaps in soil data, weak institutional coordination, low farmer awareness, and the cost and availability of appropriate fertilisers as challenges that could hinder implementation.

The minister called on state governments to integrate soil-health interventions into their agricultural development plans, while urging research institutions, development partners, and private-sector operators to support the scheme with technical expertise and sustainable financing.

He said the programme would be assessed through measurable indicators, including the number of farmers reached, soil samples analysed, Soil Health Cards distributed, and improvements in fertiliser-use efficiency, crop yields, and farm incomes.

The minister also urged IAR&T and OCP Africa to deepen their collaboration with the ministry to translate scientific research into practical solutions for farmers.

The Executive Director of IAR&T, Professor Gabriel Oluwatosin, in his opening address, warned that inadequate phosphorus management could undermine efforts to achieve food security, particularly in countries with depleted soils and limited access to appropriate fertilisers.

He explained that phosphorus was essential for plant growth, energy transfer, and root development, adding that there was no substitute for the nutrient in food production.

According to him, phosphorus management presented a double challenge globally, with farmers in parts of sub-Saharan Africa battling nutrient-deficient soils while excessive fertiliser application in some other regions contributed to water pollution.

He warned that the concentration of phosphate-rock reserves in a few countries, alongside export restrictions and international price fluctuations, could affect fertiliser affordability in import-dependent countries such as Nigeria.

“Phosphorus is the bottleneck no one talks about in food security. Without nitrogen, we can make fertilizer from air. Without phosphorus, there is no workaround, it’s an element, you can’t synthesize it. For Nigeria, the issue isn’t just how much fertilizer, but balanced use. Many farmers apply urea alone, which without phosphorus and potassium further mines the soil,” Professor Oluwatosin stated.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Adebayo Bamire, called for greater commitment to sustainable soil fertility management, describing it as central to Nigeria’s food security and agricultural transformation.

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Bamire said the country’s growing population would increase pressure on food production, making investment in soil health and responsible nutrient management increasingly important. He identified continuous cultivation, nutrient depletion, soil degradation, deforestation, and poor farming practices as factors contributing to declining soil fertility, lower crop yields, and reduced farm profitability.

“The future of food security in Nigeria is fundamentally linked to the health and productivity of our soils,” he said.

Bamire described the summit as an opportunity for stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, improve nutrient-use efficiency, and develop strategies for sustainable agricultural growth.