By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA — The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, has announced that 10 million farmers across Nigeria will receive advisory services based on soil tests as the 2026 rainy season farming approaches.

The Minister made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during the launch of the Readiness Assessment for the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme.

Describing soil as “the cornerstone of our food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity,” Dr. Abdullahi lamented the degradation of farmlands due to years of nutrient depletion, erosion, and climate-related stress.

He warned that without urgent intervention, Nigeria may struggle to achieve the goals of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP 2022–2027), and the National Agriculture Resilience Framework.

The Minister expressed confidence that the Readiness Assessment will help ensure that resources from the 2026 budget are efficiently deployed for maximum impact on nutrition and resilience.

The Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme aims to provide Federal, State, and Local Governments with accurate data to guide interventions. Key components of the scheme include:

• Expanding soil testing through mobile laboratories and the Nigerian Soil Information System (NSIS), in collaboration with GIZ and other partners.
• Scaling up the use of organic fertilisers, biochar, lime, and cover cropping.
• Enhancing extension services with digital tools to deliver site-specific recommendations to farmers.
• Distributing Digital Soil Health Cards to farmers across all 774 Local Government Areas.
• Collaborating with the Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture, and private partners to provide bundled inputs, credit, and insurance.

Under the scheme, the government targets the management of 5 million hectares with improved soil practices, including organic fertilisers, lime, cover crops, and agroforestry. It also aims to reduce post-harvest losses by 30% in targeted value chains and promote youth and women-led soil enterprises in every geopolitical zone.

Dr. Abdullahi noted that over 3,500 farmers have already been trained, with plans to extend the programme to millions more.

In a goodwill message, the President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mohammed Magaji, described the initiative as “a significant milestone” in achieving sustainable agricultural development and food security in Nigeria.

“The health of our soil is the foundation upon which our agricultural productivity rests,” Magaji said. “The introduction of the Soil Health Card Scheme is a timely and strategic intervention that will empower farmers with critical knowledge about their soils, enabling them to make informed decisions on fertiliser application, crop selection, and soil management.”

He assured that AFAN would fully support the programme by mobilising farmers at the grassroots level and called for sustained commitment, continuous farmer education, and adequate funding to ensure its long-term success.