Nigeria Institute of Soil Science, NISS Northwest zonal office has supplied a total of one hundred and seventy five soil test kits for distribution across the seven states of the Zone.
Northwest Zonal coordinator of the institute Professor Samaila Noma stated this at a one day training of agricultural extension agents held in Sokoto state.
He said the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science has placed great emphasis on training and retraining of extension agents and farmers on best agricultural practices.
Professor Samaila Noma explained that the participants are expected to step down the training to farmers in their respective state.
Prof.Noma maintained that the training workshop is the third in the series of trainings in the zone in the last one year.
In his speech, Chief host and Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Lawal Bilbils, represented by Prof. Alhassan Danladi Isah
commended the Institution for the tremendous achievements.
The vice Chancellor however urged NISS to look into the low usage of fertilizer in the Sub-Saharan Region compared to global average.
He also challenged the institute to look into poor conditions of most soil laboratories in the country with a view to repositioning and provisions of state of the art facilities for sustainable agricultural development in the country.
In his remarks Sokoto state Commissioner for Agriculture, Professor Aminu Abubakar, who led the distribution of the soil test kits commended the foresight of NISS in supplying the soil test kits, stressing that the move would go a long way in boosting agricultural productivity in the zone
In a paper presentation, a resource person Dr Garba Aliyu Abubakar explained
extensively on the need for proper soil sampling guide.
He listed importance of soil tests to include, gaining knowledge about the soil condition and how to improve it.
He said soil tests are used to determine the nutrient content and level of a soil for the growth of plants and help to know the exact type and quantity of fertilizer that needs to be applied for specific crops at a given period.
Nasir Malali
