The federal government has agreed with a Singaporean firm to improve the quality of Nigerian soil and enhance its capacity for increased crop productivity by applying scientific solutions for higher yields and lower costs.
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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday in Abuja by the Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, the Singaporean firm Flux, and the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA).
The collaboration aims to improve soil quality by grinding selected rocks into powder, which is then applied to the soil. This has the significant advantage of serving as fertiliser.
In his remarks, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji said the agreement marks a significant step in concerted efforts to address Nigeria’s food security challenges. He added that “agriculture is the backbone of the Nigerian economy, contributing 25% of our GDP and providing livelihood for more than 70% of our people.”
He lamented that the sector faces immense challenges, from climate change and land degradation to rising costs and inadequate technology adoption. He pointed out the current surge in food prices across Nigeria underlines the urgent need for innovation and sustainable solutions.
“The Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology is committed to driving such solutions in alignment with the President’s Renewed Hope agenda. We believe that Science and technology are the engines for transforming our agricultural sector, enhancing productivity and ensuring that no Nigerian goes hungry.
“Today’s partnership with Flux is a testament to our dedication to this cause. Through this collaboration, we aim to introduce innovative methods that can significantly increase crop yields, lower costs for our farmers and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
“Flux and the NBRDA will ensure that these solutions are adapted to our local conditions, leveraging the expertise and resources available in Nigeria. Furthermore, this MoU symbolizes our commitment to working with local and international partners to create meaningful impacts by focusing on sustainable agriculture, creating jobs, and fostering economic development,” he said.
The Director General of NBRDA, Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, told reporters in an interview that the selected rocks are abundant in Nigeria and, when added, will improve the soil’s nutrients, helping farmers achieve higher yields and lower costs.
He said, “The soil’s sustainability is what will change. Farmers are having difficulty in terms of fertilizer, and the good thing is that we will get fertilizer almost for free, which will be spread on the farm, and the farm will produce a high yield of over 40%. So, this is going to alleviate the suffering of farmers, and this is something that, if we start in the country, will reduce the cost of food production.”
The CEO of Flux, Sam Davies, said Nigeria is leading the way in innovation, climate change, and food security, adding that this innovation improves soil quality for better yields. “We use natural rock powders using natural organic material that we find already in the country, and we take those powders, crush them, and use them on the soil,” he said.
He added that the innovation could serve as fertilizer and achieve 44% results in Nigeria, as it did in Kenya, where the pilot scheme was launched.
