Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Nigerian Agriculture
In a significant development for Nigeria's agricultural sector, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has entered into a formal partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The two institutions signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering soil health, optimizing fertilizer usage, and ultimately strengthening national food security through sustainable farming practices.
Official Signing Ceremony and Key Objectives
The MoU was formally endorsed by Dr. Simeon Ehui, the Director General of IITA, and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security. This agreement is designed to support critical national initiatives, including the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) and the development of a robust national soil information system. All collaborative activities will be implemented through the Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, which is hosted by IITA at its Ibadan facility.
Dr. Simeon Ehui emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, stating: "The Regional Hub serves as the technical backbone for soil health and fertilizer optimization across West Africa and the Sahel. With Nigeria's Soil Health Initiative, the Hub gains a prominent champion that elevates soil health from a technical discussion to a political priority. This creates immediate demand and urgency for the Hub's outputs, ranging from digital soil mapping and fertilizer recommendations to establishing laboratory standards. Nigeria's leadership example helps catalyze momentum throughout the region, demonstrating how regional cooperation can yield tangible national benefits."
Deepening Collaboration for Sustainable Solutions
This partnership represents a deepening of collaboration between IITA, a premier research-for-development institution focused on combating hunger, poverty, and land degradation, and FMAFS, Nigeria's principal agency for agricultural productivity and food security policy formulation. Together, they will tackle persistent challenges related to soil fertility and fertilizer inefficiency by leveraging:
- Data-driven analytical tools
- Advanced agricultural technologies
- Regional expertise and best practices
The MoU builds directly upon the foundation of the NFSHS, which advocates for precise soil testing and crop-specific recommendations to foster sustainable intensification and climate-resilient farming systems nationwide. It specifically addresses:
- Soil fertility degradation
- Inefficient fertilizer application
- The promotion of sustainable agricultural methodologies
The Regional Hub: A Consortium of Expertise
Launched in 2024 as a sub-program of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and hosted by IITA in Ibadan, the Regional Hub brings together a powerful consortium of partners. This includes:
- The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
- The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
- OCP Africa
- The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI)
- University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
- ISRIC – World Soil Information
The Hub receives financial backing from the World Bank through the CGIAR Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project, as well as from OCP Africa, ensuring robust support for its initiatives.
Key Deliverables and Expected Outcomes
According to the MoU, the partnership is expected to deliver several critical outcomes:
- Crop- and location-specific fertilizer recommendations for staple crops like maize and rice
- Application of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) and the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship: right source, right rate, right time, and right place
- Development of digital soil information systems, establishment of laboratory standards, and comprehensive capacity building programs
- Creation of scalable models to support sustainable agriculture across West Africa and the Sahel region
Axel Lionel Kadja, Director of the Regional Hub based at IITA in Ibadan, commented: "Through the Regional Hub, IITA is collaborating closely with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to translate Nigeria's soil health policy into actionable results. We are employing data and scientific rigor to deliver tangible benefits for farmers and the nation's entire food system. This collaboration underscores our shared dedication to smarter fertilizer utilization, increased crop yields, and long-term agricultural sustainability."
This landmark agreement marks a proactive step towards addressing fundamental agricultural challenges in Nigeria, positioning soil health as a cornerstone for achieving enduring food security and economic resilience.
