Food Production : IFDC Raises Alarm Over Nig’s Poor Soil Health

The International Fertilizer Development Center IFDC, through its Soil Values program funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s rapidly deteriorating soil health, warning that widespread degradation now poses a serious threat to food production, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi, made this known while addressing journalists during an event to commemorate World Soil day in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi, said soil remains the backbone of Nigeria’s agriculture sector, supplying 95 percent of the nation’s food and providing 15 of the 18 essential nutrients required for plant growth.

He explained that soil not only supports crop and livestock production but also purifies water, regulates the climate, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and provides habitat for beneficial microorganisms, thereby enhancing ecosystem services and biodiversity.

The Minister noted that commemorating World Soil Day offers the Ministry an opportunity to educate the public, especially farmers, on the importance of soil conservation, promote sustainable agricultural practices, support soil health initiatives, encourage research, and advocate policies that protect the nation’s soil resources.

Yinka Arowosafe, Edited By Grace Namiji