FUNAAB Don Commends President Tinubu’s National Farmers Soil Health Scheme

A Professor of Soil Physics with expertise in soil sustainability and nutrient management, Johnson Adesodun, has described the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), recently launched by President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda with the support of some international organisations to enhance soil health and improve agricultural productivity, as a significant initiative. 

Prof. Adesodun made the disclosure while delivering the 111th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, titled: 'Sustainable Society with Quality Soil Physical Environment as Siamese Twins', held at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building of the University. 

He stated that the initiative includes the establishment of 774 soil testing laboratories in all local government areas, availability of personal soil health cards for farmers, and the development of soil information system (digital platform) to aggregate soil data for evidence-based decision-making and research is highly commended. 

The 111th Inaugural Lecturer, noted that the planning and implementation of government support programme must be seen as a collaborative effort between government agencies or departments and local authorities, saying since there is no single support train or strategy that can be applied to different regions, comprehensive approach to support programme, where research, education, and practical implementation are funded, is highly recommended. 

Prof. Adesodun who is of the Department of Soil Science and Land Management, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT) of FUNAAB, reiterated that many agricultural practices that promote soil conservation often have lower long-term costs, but higher initial costs, adding that government intervention and support are often essential both from regions where soil management efforts are currently being implemented and from regions where efforts are still in the planning stages.

The don emphasised that more digital platforms and applications for smart phones should be developed to help users easily access and understand soil data, stressing that artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data prediction models may also play an important role for soil and land management.