Gombe Farmers Urge Soil Testing as Key to Bumper Harvests, Food Security
Some farmers in Gombe State have advocated for soil testing to boost productivity and enhance food security.
Soil testing is a process of analysing the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of soil to determine nutrient, acidic, or alkaline levels for crop cultivation.
It can help farmers optimise crop production by identifying nutrient deficiencies and ensuring proper nutrient levels for plant health.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday at the Difa community in the Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.
Mr. Abdullahi Babayo, a farmer, said that effective analysis improved soil health and management to enable farmers to increase their production output.
He said that poor soil management could jeopardise efforts to boost productivity and achieve food security in the state.
Babayo described soil testing as a crucial step in agriculture that provides valuable information about nutrient content and overall soil health.
He said proper sample analysis of the soil helps farmers to identify nutrient deficiencies, ascertain potential issues, and make informed decisions that would boost productivity and farmers’ incomes.
The farmer attributed the failure of improved seeds to poor soil health or profile, stressing that soil must be tested and profiled for certain crops before planting to achieve a bumper harvest.
“Conducting soil tests is crucial for boosting productivity in agriculture by providing insights into soil health, nutrient levels, and potential issues.
“This is why we need the government to conduct soil testing in our community and other farming communities in the state.
“Many farmers are poor today not because they do not farm but because of farming practices that are not up to date.
“Using improved seeds on soils that aren’t compatible can lead to several issues, including low yields due to poor seed establishment and failure.
“Improved seeds are bred to be more productive and resilient, but their success also depends on the soil’s ability to support their growth.
“Soil is the foundation of agriculture, and its health and fertility are crucial for crop productivity,” he said.
Babayo said that many farmers were jittery of improved seeds in view of their bad experiences, caused by poor soil management.
According to him, using improved seeds is not the only solution to productivity; hence the need for soil testing to find out if such seeds are compatible with the soil.
He further decried the dearth of extension services and urged the state government to recruit more extension workers to enhance the quality of services at the grassroots.
