The Federal Government has launched the Nigerian Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme, a major agricultural intervention under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at transforming crop production through improved soil management, scientific fertiliser use and data-driven farming practices.
The scheme, unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi, targets longstanding challenges of low productivity and high production costs caused by indiscriminate fertiliser application. It introduces tailored fertiliser recommendations based on specific crops and locations to help farmers maximise yields, reduce waste and enhance national food security.
Sabi described soil as the “quiet partner in every harvest,” stressing that many farmers have cultivated without understanding what their soil needs. He said the initiative will provide farmers with accurate soil analysis, taking away guesswork and offering guidance that leads to higher productivity and lower input costs.
The programme’s core objectives include restoring soil fertility, raising crop yields, promoting sustainable farming practices and aligning Nigeria’s agricultural system with climate-resilient methods. It also supports the national vision of food sovereignty by reducing reliance on food imports and reviving local agricultural capacity.
A key component of the scheme is the establishment of 774 soil-testing laboratories across every local government area in the country. These centres will generate data and issue personalised soil health cards detailing nutrient levels, pH balance and recommended fertiliser formulas for each farm. The government is also developing the Nigeria Soil Information System, a digital platform for consolidating soil data to guide future agricultural decisions.
The scheme is expected to benefit farmers with improved fertiliser efficiency, increased income from higher yields and environmental protection through reduced overuse of chemical inputs. By limiting fertiliser runoff and pollution, it aims to ensure safer food for both local consumption and export. It is also projected to create jobs for rural youths and women through laboratory operations and field services.
Implementation will follow a Public-Private Partnership structure, with national, state and local committees working alongside research institutions, farmer groups and international partners such as GIZ, the World Bank’s ACReSAL Project, Soil Values and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also involved in supporting technical development.
Preparatory milestones already achieved include concept development, stakeholder workshops, pilot soil analyses and technician training in Oyo and Kano States. The scheme has also been integrated into the ECOWAS Regional Fertiliser Hub and aligns with the 2024 Nairobi Declaration on African Fertiliser and Soil Health.
Senator Sabi described it as a “game-changer,” noting that precision fertiliser use could enable farmers to double yields of key crops. He cited examples where rice output could increase from 60 to 160 bags per hectare, wheat from 50 to 100 bags, and maize from 50 to 100 bags, with similar potential for onions and other crops. He said the initiative represents a move from subsistence to prosperity, where farmers earn more while feeding the nation.
The government is also working on a Nigerian Agricultural Soil Management Policy to sustain the momentum of the scheme. Sabi commended President Tinubu, state governments and sector partners for their support, emphasising that the programme is ultimately about empowering farmers with knowledge and respect for the land they cultivate.
The new initiative follows previous efforts such as the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative launched in 2016 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, which revived blending plants and reduced fertiliser costs. Building on that foundation, the current Soil Health Scheme seeks to deepen agricultural impact through science, data and farmer education.
“This is not just about better farming,” Sabi said. “It is about putting more food on the table, strengthening our economy and ensuring that when we care for the soil, the soil cares for us.”
