FG Unveils Soil Health Scheme for 10 Million Farmers

News in Brief:

-The Nigerian government plans to provide 10 million farmers with soil advisory services and manage five million hectares using improved soil practices by 2027.

-The administration says the initiative will strengthen food security, improve climate resilience, and expand digital soil testing infrastructure nationwide.

The Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to provide up to 10 million farmers with soil test-based advisory services by 2027 as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity, nutrition, and farmers’ incomes nationwide.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this recently in Abuja during the unveiling of the readiness assessment of sub-national governments for the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS).

He explained that the initiative would also support the management of about five million hectares of farmland using improved soil practices, including organic fertilisers, lime application, agroforestry systems, and cover crops.

Digital Soil Health Cards for Farmers

Abdullahi said the government would deploy digital soil health cards to farmers across the 774 local government areas through mobile technology platforms.

According to him, the readiness assessment is expected to identify degraded soils, gaps in soil testing access, and capacity limitations affecting the delivery of soil advisory services across the country.

He noted that the findings would help guide strategic investments under the 2026 budget framework to maximise productivity, resilience, and nutritional outcomes.

“The readiness assessment provides evidence that addressing soil health at scale requires strong policies, robust institutions, modern infrastructure and coordinated partnerships,” he said.

Assessment Covers Five Strategic Pillars

The minister explained that the assessment was conducted through fieldwork, laboratory audits, stakeholder consultations, policy analysis, and data validation exercises across states.

He added that the report would support the alignment of public and private sector investments, including interventions from the National Agricultural Development Fund, state governments, development partners, and private financiers.

According to Abdullahi, the assessment focuses on five major pillars, namely policy and governance, institutional capacity, technical readiness, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Government Intensifies Push for Soil Restoration

Abdullahi stressed that the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme was established to tackle soil degradation, improve nutrient efficiency, and strengthen the scientific foundation of food production in the country.

He warned that decades of erosion, flooding, nutrient depletion, and unsustainable land use practices had weakened soil fertility and increased farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

The minister described soil health as critical to national food security and sustainable development, warning that neglecting the sector could undermine Nigeria’s agricultural goals.

He further disclosed that the scheme would expand soil testing services through mobile laboratories and the Nigerian Soil Information System in partnership with development organisations, including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

The programme, he added, would also promote the use of organic fertilisers, biochar, lime application, and improved extension services supported by digital tools.

Abdullahi listed key milestones already achieved under the initiative, including the development of the scheme’s concept note, establishment of technical committees, design of soil health cards, and creation of the national soil information system.

He also revealed that the programme had been integrated into the ECOWAS fertiliser hub framework, while laboratory equipment had already been supplied to 12 states.

Soil Health Now a National Security Priority

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, described soil health as a national security priority under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the government was working towards transforming agriculture into a climate-resilient sector through large-scale soil testing initiatives and the establishment of additional laboratories nationwide.

Ogunbiyi added that the readiness assessment would help identify gaps, strengths, and critical priorities in extension services, input systems, and agricultural data platforms.

According to him, the findings would shape the final design, budgeting, and implementation strategy for the Nigerian Farmers' Soil Health Scheme.