The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to introduce soil test kits to farmers nationwide as part of efforts to boost food production, an official has said.
Prof Victor Chude, the Director, Farm Inputs Support Services in the ministry, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Chude said that the technology, known as 'Soil Doctor', would enable farmers to conduct instant test on the soil, to determine its strengths and weaknesses.
He noted that soil testing was critical to farming as it guide farmers on the best fertilisers to apply in various soil types.
He noted that the current system of blanket application of fertiliser results in waste of scarce fertilisers.
"This is because the soil is not well prepared to take the nutrients for root interception within its short lifespan of arable cropping.
"Soil Doctor analyses the fertility of the soil by sending a message to the cloud, and the result comes immediately, telling you the fertiliser to be used for a particular soil.
Source: Leadership
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