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The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has stressed the need for accurate and accessible soil information to drive higher yields and sustain agricultural productivity across Nigeria. IITA Deputy Director General for Research for Development, Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, stated this during the Nigeria Soil Information Systems (SIS) Development Workshop, held on Thursday in Abuja. The workshop, attended by key stakeholders from government, research institutes and the private sector, is expected to produce an actionable framework to strengthen soil health and support sustainable food production across Nigeria. Vanlauwe said that reliable soil data was critical to achieving food security and supporting millions of farmers nationwide. “What we are doing here is setting up a soil information system that must be linked to millions of farmers via advisory services and digital applications,” he said. He stated that the system would provide farmers with up-to-date advice on soil management, fertiliser use, and sustainable practices, adding that extension services must be empowered to interpret and communicate such data effectively. “We are developing the technical framework, databases and analytics to provide support to every single farmer in Nigeria,” he said. Vanlauwe noted that the initiative supports the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Initiative under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), which aims to enhance soil health nationwide. While commending Nigeria’s progress compared to other African countries, Vanlauwe stressed that success depended on collaboration among private sector actors including the fertiliser and seed industries. He added, “Success or failure depends on the economics of production. Soil information helps ensure production remains profitable while maintaining sustainability.” The President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria and visiting IITA scientist, Professor Jibrin Jibrin, said the Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub for West Africa and the Sahel was established to assist countries in improving soil data and management. “Before you can plan, you must have adequate and reliable information. If your recommendations are based on wrong data, the results will be wrong,” Professor Jibrin said. He said the workshop, organised with the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), came at a crucial time when Nigeria is developing its own soil information system under the recently launched national soil health scheme. Jibrin added that a roadmap for implementing the soil information system would be ready soon urging the Federal Government to adopt and execute it without delay. “The foundation of all agricultural production is the soil. If the soil is not healthy, whatever you do on it will not yield the right result.” In his remarks, Head of Agricultural Land Management Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Olanipekun Oshadiya, said maintaining soil health required responsible fertiliser use and sound soil fertility management practices. “We must regard the soil as a living thing. Keeping it healthy ensures sustainable agriculture and prevents nutrient decline,” Oshadiya said. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
