Institute trains soil scientists on innovations to improve agriculture
The Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS), has trained Registered Soil Scientists in South East zone on innovations geared towards helping farmers in the area to improve productivity.
Prof. Charles Asadu, Coordinator, NISS South East Zone, said this at a one-day conference in Nsukka, that the training workshop is entitled “Capacity Building for Registered Soil Scientist on New Innovations and Advances in Soil Science.”
The training was organised by the institute as part of efforts to improve agriculture in the country.
He said, that in the changing world, soil scientists could not be left out because farmers depend on them to improve their productive capacity and efficiency.
“Today, the participants have been trained on the use of machine learning to predict soil properties and optimize agricultural productivity. and the creation of new organic amendments from sustainable plant source, using eco-friendly agricultural technology and how mycorrhizal fungi can improve soil health and plant productivity.”
The coordinator said, that participants who are registered soil scientists were expected to use the knowledge gained in the workshop to train farmers and extension agents in their areas.
“One of the objectives of NISS is to assist the Federal Government in achieving food security,” he said.
Asadu, highlighting activities of the institute in Southeast zone, noted that farmers and extension agents in the area have benefited immensely in NISS’ many training workshops.
Prof. Peter Ezeaku, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), speaking on the use of machine learning to predict soil properties, said the aim was to optimise agricultural productivity.
Ezeaku noted that most common parameters that affect machine learning performance could help to select the optimal strategy for a particular research task in soil study.
“The comparative influence on the machine learning techniques and their parameters showed that they can increase or decrease the overall soil analysis accuracy.
“Machine learning technologies are making significant impacts in agriculture, so any country that is desirous of improving its agriculture will be unwise to ignore it,” Ezeaku said.
Speaking on creation of Eco-friendly Agricultural Technology, Dr Innocent Onyekwere, Assistant Director, Farming System Research Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia, advised farmers to use organic amendments for crop production.
He said that the first step in organic amendment (manure) was to establish nutrient requirement for the growth and yield of such crop and followed by laboratory analysis of the organic amendments and soil that the crop will grow on, after which the quantity to be applied will be determined before application.
“These steps will give excellent results for sustainable soil fertility and enhanced crop yield if followed adequately.”
The Assistant Director listed some of the benefits of organic amendments to include; free of methane, plants disease causing pathogens, act as buffer against drought and flood, among others.
Onyekwere said that Eco-friendly Agricultural Technology could be referred to as clean technology that uses green renewable energy to convert plant residues to organic amendments at zero carbon emission.
“Eco-friendly agricultural technology can help preserve the environment through energy efficiency and reduction of harmful waste.
“Recycling, renewing and reusing bio-degradable content waste such as plant-based materials to decomposed and convert organic amendments are example of Eco-friendly agricultural technology,” he said.
Some of the participant commended NISS for organising the workshop that have equipped them with the knowledge on how to apply new agricultural innovations in their area.
Participants promised that they would use the knowledge gained from the workshop to train farmers and extension agents in their areas.
They said this would justify the aim of NISS in organising the workshop and enable them to contribute their own quote towards achieving food security in the country.
