By Olasupo Abideen
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to address climate change by enhancing soil fertility through the cultivation of climate-resilient crops and livestock.
This was revealed by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, during the 48th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Soil Health and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for Resilient Food Security System,” provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the critical role of soil health in sustainable agriculture.
Abdullahi emphasized that climate-smart agriculture is essential for adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
“Integrated pest management, nutrient management, and soil testing and analysis are crucial in mitigating the impact of climate change,” Abdullahi stated. He underscored that soil health forms the foundation of sustainable agriculture and highlighted the necessity of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Abdullahi drew attention to the severe challenges climate change poses to Nigeria’s arable land, referencing President Bola Tinubu’s address at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“Desert encroachment in the North, coastal flooding and erosion in the South, and seasonal flooding during the rainy season pose significant threats to our arable land,” Abdullahi quoted Tinubu.
He stressed the urgency of adopting innovative solutions to these issues, including climate-smart practices such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, agroforestry, and reforestation. “To effectively address these challenges, we must inject new knowledge, innovations, skills, techniques, technology, and a renewed value orientation,” he added.
Abdullahi also emphasized the importance of prioritizing soil health and climate-smart agriculture, encouraging private-sector investment, and empowering smallholder farmers. “The solutions to these problems are within our reach, encompassing climate-smart practices such as conservation tillage and cover cropping,” he noted.
He further highlighted that the Federal Government is committed to implementing these solutions, which include the cultivation of climate-resilient crops and livestock, integrated pest management, and nutrient management. “We must prioritize soil health and climate-smart agriculture to ensure a resilient food security system,” Abdullahi affirmed.
The minister called for collaborative efforts to address soil degradation and climate change, stressing that these are fundamental challenges for sustainable agriculture.
He also reiterated that by adopting climate-smart practices and prioritizing soil health, Nigeria can build a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector capable of withstanding the impacts of climate change.
