The Federal Government on Tuesday launched the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), a transformative initiative designed to enhance soil fertility, improve crop yields, and drive sustainable food production across the country.
The scheme, launched under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was unveiled by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi in Abuja.
According to the minister, the NFSHS is an “innovative, homegrown initiative” aimed at tackling the challenges of low agricultural productivity and the high cost of production caused by indiscriminate fertilizer use.
“Farming begins with the soil; it is the quiet partner in every harvest, the hidden force behind every good crop. But for many years, our soils have been working without rest, giving and giving, while we hardly checked how they were doing,” Sen. Sabi said.
“The Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme is here to help farmers understand their soil better what nutrients it has, what it lacks, and how to treat it right. It takes away the guesswork and gives farmers simple, useful advice to grow more, spend less, and care for the land.”
The minister explained that the NFSHS represents a major step in advancing scientific soil assessment and data-driven fertilizer application across Nigeria. By promoting crop- and location-specific fertilizer recommendations, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s goal of ensuring food sovereignty and revolutionising agriculture for sustainable growth.
Among the key deliverables of the scheme are the establishment of 774 soil testing laboratories across local government areas, issuance of personalized soil health cards for farmers, and the development of a digital platform the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) to consolidate soil data for evidence-based decision-making.
Speaking further, he said the NFSHS seeks to: improve soil health and fertility through targeted fertilizer application; increase agricultural productivity and food security; and promote climate-resilient and regenerative farming practices.
Expected benefits include optimised fertiliser use, higher yields, increased farmers’ income, environmental sustainability, and job creation particularly for youth and women engaged in rural laboratory operations.
(The Nation)
