Efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy through agriculture can only yield meaningful result if sustainable measures are adopted for the efficient management of soil resources, Prof Ayodele Odofin of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State, has said.
The don said adopting efficient soil management techniques is critical to harnessing the nation’s vast natural resources for economic growth and food security. Massive cultivation of soil nutrients, he said, would lead to large-scale export of agricultural products, which would in turn help drive income from agriculture sector.
Prof Odofin spoke while delivering the institution’s 56th inaugural lecture with the theme: Nigerian soil resources: The neglected base of our national development. It was held at Caverton Lecture Theatre in Gidan Kwano campus.
The professor of Soil Science emphasised the need to promote what he called conservation agriculture to address the food crisis and drive foreign exchange for non-oil export.
He said: “Conservation agriculture helps in managing the fertile agro-ecosystems for sustained productivity. Besides, it prevents the burning of crop residues and checks both water and wind erosion. Disease control and water loss from the soil are other benefits of the agricultural scheme.”
Prof Odofin explained that conservation agriculture evolved from previous farming operations, such as zero-tillage agriculture, agro-forestry, organic manure application, cover cropping, direct planting, integrated pest management and conservation tillage, among others.
He said: “Conservation agriculture or agricultural environmental management is a form of soil management practice that minimises disruption of the soil’s structure, composition and biodiversity. It has the potential to improve crop yields, while improving the long-term environmental and financial sustainability of farming.
“Adopting conservation agriculture is a sure way to increasing farmers’ profits, resolve food insecurity dilemma and preserving vital soil resources. It is the most sustainable and environment-friendly management system for mass cultivation of food and commercial crops.”
Prof Odofin recalled that prior to the discovery of oil, agriculture was the nation economy’s mainstay, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and more than 75 per cent of its export earnings.
According to the don, the huge returns from crude oil sales and rapid expansion of the petroleum industry led to the relegation agriculture to the background.
He said: “The fact that successive governments failed to design good road maps for the nation’s agro industry, formulate favourable policies, provide sufficient funds and the menace of food importation, stalled the growth of the agricultural sector .
“High food prices, hunger, domestic inflation, depletion of foreign reserves and rural-urban migration are the products for solely running an oil-dependent economy.”
The inaugural lecturer said maintenance of permanent soil cover, minimal soil disturbance and regular crop rotation system remained the core principles behind the effectiveness of conservation agriculture.
The professor of Soil Science listed the success stories of conservation agriculture to include increased production of rice and wheat by Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Africa and the irrigated maize/wheat systems of Northwest of Mexico.
He said: “A major environmental benefit of conservation agriculture is reduction in fossil fuel use and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. It helps to break organic molecules in the soil into phosphates, nitrates and other beneficial elements, which are absorbed by plants. In addition, it keeps the temperature and moisture levels of soil at a higher level. It also reduces the physical exertion of farmers, who use their energies to provide labour during tillage.”
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) and chairman of the event, Prof Musbau Akanji, applauded the inaugural lecturer for what he called “cutting-edge research”, urging the Federal Government to look at the recommendations of the lecture with the aim of boosting agricultural revenue.
