By Felicia Imohimi
The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) says it is rolling out five years strategic action plan to address the challenges of soil degradation and food security in the country.
The Registrar of the institute, Prof. Victor Chude, and made this known in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Tuesday.
Chude noted that the implementation of the action plan is geared toward addressing the challenges of soil degradation, protection of the soil, promotion of sustainable soil management, ultimately leading to food and nutrition security in the country.
According to him, the Action Plan, which its implementation will run between June 2020 and 2025, has been categorized into five thematic areas (Pillars one to five) for effective and efficient coordination and monitoring.
He listed the five pillars to include:
“Promotion of sustainable management of soil resources for soil protection, conservation and sustainable productivity; Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soil.
“Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and synergies with related productive, environmental and social development actions by assessing and prioritising soil related research gaps.
“Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and information: data collection and generation, analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring and integration with other disciplines.
“The fifth pillar is harmonisation of methods, measurements and indicators for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources.”
NAN reports that NISS is saddled with the mandate of regulating the profession of soil science as well as providing a scientific basis for enhancing and sustaining productivity of soil resources with minimal environmental degradation, especially with regard to food production in the country. (NAN)
