The Federal Government says plans are underway to integrate agroecology and regenerative agriculture principles towards a transformed food system in the country.
Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Secuirty, stated this while inaugurating the National Executive Technical Committee on the implementation of the Nigeria Farmer’s Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS), in Abuja.
Agroecology is a farming system that combines ecological principles with agricultural practices while regenerative agriculture focused on improving the health of the soil that had been degraded by the use of heavy machinery.
He said that the NFSHCS scheme sought to enhance agricultural productivity in the country and to ensure a food-secure future for Nigeria.
“The NFSHCS), administered by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) for Sustainable Agriculture, stands as a pivotal initiative aiming to integrate principles of agroecology and regenerative agriculture.
“This is in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu for a ‘strongly revived and vibrant agricultural sector towards a transformed food system,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the strategy for soil samples collection would be at 2.5 ha grid from irrigated area and 10 ha grid from rain-fed area.
“In case of cluster of villages, the State and Local Government Area ( LGA ) executive committees will pass a resolution for setting up of village level soil testing project in a particular village/beneficiary village.
“One per cent of the samples tested by the beneficiary laboratory will be rechecked by the Nation Soil Reference Laboratory of the area or any of the Soil Testing Laboratory (STL) of the State.
“The National Executive Technical Committee (NEC) shall take the decision for the selection of beneficiary laboratory and approve it within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application(s),” he said.
He urged the committee to work collaboratively to ensure inclusivity and equity for a successful Soil Health programme under the Renewed Hope Food Security initiatives.
In his remark, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Olanipekun Oshadiya, said soil health is one of the important interventions under the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Food Secuirty.
Oshadiya, who is also the Director, Department of Agricultural Land Climate Change Management Services in the ministry, said the scheme aimed to take soil testing analysis to the door steps of the farmers.