The federal government says no fewer than 10 million farmers will receive soil test-based advisory services by 2027 to boost productivity, nutrition and incomes nationwide.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, said this on Monday in Abuja at the unveiling of the readiness assessment of sub-nationals for the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS).

He said about five million hectares would be managed using improved soil practices, including organic fertilisers, lime application, cover crops and agroforestry systems.

Mr Abdullahi said digital soil health cards would be distributed to farmers across the 774 local government areas using mobile technology.

He said the readiness assessment would identify degraded soils, gaps in soil testing access, and capacity constraints in delivering soil advisory services nationwide.

He added that the assessment would guide investments for maximum impact in nutrition, resilience and productivity, especially under the 2026 budget framework.

“The readiness assessment provides evidence that addressing soil health at scale requires strong policies, robust institutions, modern infrastructure and coordinated partnerships,” he said.

He said the report was based on fieldwork, laboratory audits, policy analysis, stakeholder consultations and data validation across states.

According to him, it will guide the alignment of public and private investments, including coordination of the National Agricultural Development Fund, state budgets, donor and private financing.

He said the assessment covers five pillars: policy and governance, institutional capacity, technical readiness, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Mr Abdullahi said the NFSHS was designed to address soil degradation, improve nutrient efficiency and strengthen the scientific basis of food production.

He said decades of nutrient depletion, erosion, flooding and poor land use had reduced soil fertility and increased farmer vulnerability.

He stressed that soil health is critical to food security and national survival, warning that neglect would undermine development goals.

The minister said the scheme would expand soil testing through mobile laboratories and the Nigerian Soil Information System in collaboration with development partners, including GIZ.

He added that it would promote organic fertilisers, biochar, lime application and improved extension services supported by digital tools.

Mr Abdullahi said key milestones include development of the concept note, establishment of technical committees, soil health card design and creation of the national soil information system.

Others, he said, include integration into the ECOWAS fertiliser hub and provision of laboratory equipment to 12 states.

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, said soil health had become a national security priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the government was working to transform agriculture into a climate-resilient sector through large-scale soil testing and the establishment of laboratories.

Mr Ogunbiyi said the readiness assessment would identify gaps, strengths and priorities in extension services, input systems and data platforms.

He added that findings would guide the final design, budget and implementation strategy of the soil health scheme. 

(NAN)