FG Will Improve Soil Fertility, To reduce The Effects Of Climate Change

The Federal Government has declared that it will increase soil fertility to foster food security while reducing the effects of climate change on the nation.

This information was revealed in Nsukka on Saturday during a keynote speech by Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, at the 47th meeting of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN).

"Tropical Soil and Water Resources Management: Climate Change Mitigation for Functional Ecosystem Services and Food Security" was the conference's theme.

Umakhihe said, "Enhancing soil fertility and food security is one of the mandates of our ministry and we have been taking the issue seriously to achieve the mandate.

"Our ministry has made a lot of contributions towards climate change mitigation to help maintain the soil. productivity and achieve food security.

"Government has responded in many ways on issues of climate change mitigation through a series of interventions and collaborations with relevant ministries and agencies.

"In the past few years, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the Department of Agriculture, Land and Climate Change Management Service (ALCCMS), has invested so much on climate change mitigation strategies.

"In the areas of water harvesting, small-scale irrigation techniques, land and water conservation, and management strategies in many parts of the countries have recorded good results," he said.

The Permanent Secretary pleaded for cooperation from all stakeholders to guarantee increased agricultural productivity through the ministry's director, Mr. Oshadiya Olanipekun.

He stated that the loss of soil organic matter, the fall in moisture content, and the loss of soil structure were all effects of climate change.

"Disruption in rainfall intensity affects water resources and food production are already a threat to ecosystem services and food security," he added.