New FG–IITA partnership to transform soil health, enhance food production
The Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to roll out a nationwide soil health and fertiliser efficiency programme aimed at improving farm productivity and reducing input costs for Nigerian farmers.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and IITA in Abuja. The initiative is designed to improve soil quality, enhance fertiliser use efficiency and promote data-driven farming practices across the agricultural value chain.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the programme would provide farmers with precise fertiliser and crop recommendations based on soil data, helping to improve yields while reducing waste and unnecessary spending on farm inputs. He noted that the initiative aligns with the presidential soil health scheme and the broader Renewed Hope agenda for food security and sovereignty.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the collaboration is built around three key pillars: improved land management and climate services, national capacity building through applied research and soil data systems, and the development of a scalable model that could be adopted across the ECOWAS region.
A major component of the programme is the planned establishment of soil testing laboratories in all 774 local government areas. The laboratories will enable farmers to submit soil samples and receive tailored recommendations, reducing guesswork and improving returns on fertiliser investments.
From a commercial perspective, the soil testing network is expected to stimulate demand for local laboratory services, digital advisory platforms and precision agriculture tools, while improving efficiency in fertiliser distribution and use.
IITA Director-General, Simeon Ehui, said the agreement would strengthen the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme and the National Soil Information System. Implementation will be coordinated through the Regional Hub of Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, hosted by IITA.
The programme will initially focus on major staple crops, including rice, maize, sorghum, wheat and yam, delivering location-specific fertiliser recommendations, integrated soil fertility management and improved laboratory and digital soil information standards.
Analysts say improved fertiliser efficiency could help lower production costs, stabilise output for food processors and gradually reduce pressure on foreign exchange used for fertiliser imports, marking a step towards more data-driven and sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.