Soil health initiatives: securing Nigeria's food future

In a bold step toward strengthening food security, the Federal Government has officially launched the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) - an initiative aimed at equipping farmers with vital knowledge and tools to better manage their soil for improved productivity and profitability.

The launch took place in Abuja on Tuesday, with Aliyu Abdullahi,Deputy Minister of Agriculture, highlighting the importance of soil management in line with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The scheme is positioned as a game-changer for agriculture in Nigeria, focusing on climate-smart practices, sustainable land use, and regenerative farming.

According to Abdullahi, the initiative is designed to deliver real-time insights into soil conditions, enabling farmers to boost yields, reduce input costs, and adopt smarter, more efficient farming methods. “The objectives include assessing soil health status, ensuring proper fertiliser use, promoting regenerative farming, enhancing food security, and enabling data-driven insights,” he said.

By offering tailored information about soil nutrients what’s present, what’s lacking, and how to amend it - the NFSHS promises not just better harvests, but also improved land stewardship for future generations. “The NFSHS provides information on what nutrients the soil has, what it lacks, and how to treat it right,” Abdullahi added.

But beyond the technical benefits, the programme is also about empowering farmers. “When a farmer understands their soil, they can plan better, harvest better, and pass on healthier land to their children. When we care for the soil, the soil cares for us. And when farmers are informed, they can thrive,” he emphasised.

The scheme is expected to help shape future agricultural policy by generating crucial data on soil conditions across the country. It will also promote efficient use of fertilisers and other inputs, helping to cut costs and reduce environmental impact.

Describing the launch as a turning point, Abdullahi said: “This is the beginning of a new season, one where every Nigerian farmer cultivates with knowledge, power, and peace of mind for a renewed hope.”

The NFSHS marks a significant move toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape - one that places soil health at the core of sustainable food production.