Institute Trains Extension Agents on Soil Productivity in Anambra State

By Chukwuka Ugokwe, Awka

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) in collaboration with Anambra State Agriculture Development Programme(ADP) has begun a two day capacity building seminar for Farmers and Extension Agents on protection and management of soil resources in Anambra State.

No fewer than 70 participants are expected to benefit from the 5th session of the training spread across the three Senatorial Districts of Anambra Central, Anambra North and South.

Speaking during the commencement of the training for Anambra Central at the Agricultural Development Programme Hall,Awka,the State Coordinator of NISS,Prof Peter Nnabude, said the programme was staged to find ways of enhancing the productivity of soil.

“We are training 14 Farmers and 6 Extension Agents for Anambra Central and will do same in other 2 Senatorial Districts.
“We are aware that our soils are poor, acidic and not properly managed and had therefore commenced various trainings on ways we can facilitate management of our soils at the local level”

Prof Nnabude,Soil Management Expert, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, enumerated gains derivable from the seminar to include improvement in the productive capacity of soils, participants skill improvement in terms of soil management as well as bountiful economic returns.

He added “when the soils are rich they will yield greater produce and that translates to greater income.We also advocate integrated soil management whereby you combine regenerative agriculture, inorganic and organic systems to boost soil productivity”

In a comment,the Programme Manager, Agricultural Development Programme (ADP),Mr Jude Nwankwo,said their agents were ready to internalise and step down knowledge, information on new technologies and best practices to farmers in the state to enhance bumper harvest.

He,then, encouraged them not to hesitate to go for soil test to determine if the soil is lacking essential nutrients using simple kits whenever they noticed poor yields.