The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has harped on the importance of prioritising soil health and climate-smart agriculture, which are critical to the establishment of a resilient food security system.
Abdullahi stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 48th Annual Conference for the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, with the theme “Soil Health and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for Resilient Food Security Systems.”.
Abdullahi, who called for the allocation of resources to carry out research and development, support policy and institutional frameworks, encourage investment from the private sector, and empower smallholder farmers, said soil health is the foundation of sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart agriculture is essential for adapting to climate change.
He said, ”Soil has become the world’s most vulnerable resource as a result of climate change and land degradation.
“The consequences of these twin problems are profound, affecting ecosystem services including food security, water quality and availability, human health, and the livelihood of many.
“Addressing soil degradation and climate change is a fundamental challenge for sustainable agriculture.
”Climate change poses an even greater challenge to our arable land, as was noted by our dear President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in his speech to the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), thus “Northern Nigeria is hounded by desert encroachment on once arable land.
“Our south is pounded by the rising tide of coastal flooding and erosion. In the middle, the rainy season brings floods that kill and displace multitudes,” he said.
All these challenges, according to him, require not just a change in tactics and approach but the injection of new knowledge, innovations, skills, techniques, technology, and value orientation.
“However, the solutions to these problems are within our reach. These solutions include climate-smart practices such as conservation tillage and cover cropping, agroforestry and reforestation, the cultivation of climate-resilient crops and livestock, integrated pest management and nutrient management, and soil testing and analysis.
”The government is committed to ensuring the nation’s food and nutrition security.
”Therefore, it is very important to prioritise soil health and climate-smart agriculture, allocate resources to research and development, support policy and institutional frameworks, encourage investment from the private sector, and empower smallholder farmers”, the Minister noted.
Furthermore, Senator Abdullahi noted that the ministry is currently promoting the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS) as a key priority and significant intervention for sustainable agriculture.
The NFSHCS, he said, is aimed at promoting sustainable soil management and the judicious use of fertilisers at the location and crop-specific level.
”As part of the NFSHCS, the establishment of soil testing laboratories is planned, with a focus on the state/local government level.
”It is important to note that the NFSHCS would achieve improved soil health and fertility, increased agricultural productivity and resilience, enhanced food security and nutrition, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, improved livelihoods and income for small-scale farmers, and better adaptation and mitigation of climate change,” Abdullahi added.
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