NISS trains farmers, extension workers on management of soil resources

In line with its mandate to provide scientific basis for enhancing and sustaining productivity of soil resources with minimal environmental degradation, especially with regards to food production in the country, the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has organized a one-day workshop for farmers and extension workers in the North-Central zone of Nigeria on the protection and management of soil resources.

The workshop had the theme: “Protection and Management of Soil Resources of Nigeria” took place at the Entrepreneurship Centre, Federal University of Technology, Minna on Tuesday, November 17, 2021.

Speaking during the opening session of the workshop, the Project Manager/Managing Director, Niger State Agricultural and Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA), Mr Suleiman Rijau expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) for organizing the workshop, adding that the workshop would empower participants with skills on integrated soil fertility management practices, and good agricultural practices for rice as well as maize.

Furthermore, he added that the training would also provide them with field practical demonstration skills on the use of soil test kit for testing oils.

“The resource persons, I believe have been carefully selected to ensure that you have received the best in all aspect of soil management practices. Therefore it is expected that beneficiaries who are mostly educated farmers with the help of the Agricultural Development Project (ADP), conduct step-down training and prepare for future capacity building to other farmers”, he advised.

The NAMDA boss urged participants to take advantage of the workshop to enhance their capacity and knowledge base so that they would be prepared to face the challenges of the emerging world of agriculture and technology.

Speaking with journalists at the event, the North Central Coordinator, NISS, Prof. Akim Osunde, a fellow of the Soil Society of Nigeria (fsssn) and a Registered Soil Scientist (RSS) stated that the workshop was geared towards equipping participants with adequate knowledge on effective sustainable soil management practices, good agricultural practices and other relevant technologies and empower them to gain knowlegde on the principles that underpin the practices contained in integrated soil fertility management.

Prof. Osunde commended the NISS for sponsoring the workshop which he described as the right step in the right direction towards enhancing soil sustainability and food prodction in the country.

The scholarly facilitators at the workshop took participants through some exciting topics such as the concept of soil, soil degradation and sustainable agriculture, the current status of soil fertility in Nigeria and the Concept of integrated soil fertility management. 

Others include the principles and practices of integrated soil fertility management, diagnosis of soil nutrient problems, the 4 rights for effective fertilizer use and good agricultural practices for Maize and Rice production in Nigeria.

Equally germane to note, is that at the end of classroom discussions, participants were conducted through a field practical demonstration on the use of a Soil Test Kits. 

The soil test kit is a packaged portable box containing instruments and reagents used to carry out real-time measurements of soil fertility status on the field particularly with regards to pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium status of the soil. 

The benefit of the soil test kits to the farmers is that the fertility status of their soil is known before they engage in any cropping venture. Thus, they are able to know if their soil requires fertilizer or soil amendment (lime) input or not, and if so, the actual type of fertilizer they required.  

This training like others is currently being conducted by NISS in all the six geo-political zones in the country in collaboration with the state ADPs in the respective states. 

Each state is expected to send two extension agents and five educated farmers to the workshops. 

A total of 259 participants were drawn from across the country to attend these workshops in the six geo-political zones.

The NISS is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

The Institute is charged with the mandate of regulating the profession of Soil Science in Nigeria, as well as providing a scientific basis for enhancing and sustaining productivity of soil resources with minimal environmental degradation, especially with regards to food production in the country.

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