By Faridat Salifu
The Federal Government has moved to overhaul how Nigerian farmers use fertiliser and manage farmland through a new data-driven partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and IITA in Abuja.
Officials said the collaboration is designed to replace traditional trial-and-error farming with scientific soil testing and location-specific recommendations.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the agreement aligns with the presidential Soil Health Scheme under the Renewed Hope for Food Security and Sovereignty agenda.
He said the focus is on transforming soil management practices to improve productivity, fertiliser efficiency, and long-term food sovereignty.
Kyari noted that healthy soil is central to food availability, affordability, and nutritional quality across the country.
He said farmers will receive evidence-based guidance on crop selection and fertiliser application to boost yields while reducing production costs.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the MoU establishes a framework for technical cooperation rather than a binding legal commitment.
He explained that the partnership prioritises soil health, climate services, capacity building, and policy support for sustainable land management.
Abdullahi said the programme aims to remove guesswork by telling farmers what to plant, where to plant, and which fertiliser suits each soil type.
He disclosed that soil testing laboratories will be established across all 774 local government areas to provide farmers with tailored recommendations.
According to him, the scheme mirrors medical diagnostics by analysing soil samples before prescriptions are made.
The Director-General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the partnership will strengthen the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme and the Nigerian National Soil Information System.
He said implementation will be coordinated through the Regional Hub of Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel hosted by IITA.
Ehui noted that the approach will deliver crop- and location-specific fertiliser guidance for staples such as rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, and yam.
He said IITA will provide technical expertise, research support, training, and monitoring to ensure measurable improvements in soil health.
Officials said the collaboration is expected to enhance climate resilience, improve fertiliser use efficiency, and accelerate progress towards national food security.