By Amaechi Agbo
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) is set to commence a Nationwide Survey and Soil Fertility Mapping to boost crop production in the agricultural sector.
The programme is part of the Ministry’s strategy to ensure sustainable utilization of the nation’s land resources and a drive towards attaining food self-sufficiency in the country.
Speaking at the opening session of a workshop with the theme: “Enhancing Food Security in Nigeria through the Production of Detailed Soil Survey and Soil Fertility Maps” held at the NAF Conference Centre, in Kado, Abuja, Tuesday, the Minister, FMARD represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, while expressing delight about the project , recalled that the last time Nigeria carried out soil inventorization was in the 1980s at a reconnaissance level using a scale of 1.650,000 which has been obsolete and inexpedient for the much desired rapid Agricultural transformation.
