NISS develops app to manage Nigerian soil and boost food production
In a bid to boost food production, the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has unveiled a mobile application, NISS Agro App, for farmers and extension workers to promote their businesses and access at the market.
The NISS revealed this during an application training for stakeholders from the northwestern states, held in Kano. Taking the floor, the Coordinator of the North West Zone of the Institute, Prof. Sama'ila S. Noma, noted that the ICT agricultural tool was developed by the NISS to ensure standard best practices in farming.
Represented by a professor of soil science, Professor Nafiu Abdu, Noma described the app as user-friendly, adding that it was developed to help farmers properly manage land use and boost production agricultural.
Noma said, “NISS is an organization responsible for ensuring soil quality in Nigeria, i.e. how soil fertility is maintained for efficient and sustainable agricultural production.
“NISS, in its attempt to make food available to the large population of Nigeria, always conducts trainings for farmers and extension workers on how they can properly manage Nigerian soils and also stimulate agricultural production.
“So this training is for farmers and extension workers to be trained in the use of the NISSAGRO app.”
This app is intended for collecting data on soil-related issues. We collect a lot of data on soil fertility, soil conservation and also agricultural products and how they market them. Noma urged the trainees to use the skills learned for their personal development and also to train other farmers.
Meanwhile, the NISS has advised farmers nationwide to test the soil before planting in it.
The institute gave the advice during a training organized by the NISS South West Zonal Office for farmers and extension officers on the NISSAGRO mobile application in Nigeria held recently in Ibadan, Nigeria. capital of Oyo State.
The NISS Registrar, Prof. Victor Chude, who spoke through Mr. Adewale Nafiu in addressing the participants, said that the major mistake made by the majority of farmers is the inability to test the soil before planting on it.
He said that most farmers suffer losses because they did not test the soil of their farm locations.
He advised that for Nigeria to ensure adequate nutrition and food security, farmers must test the soil before planting in it.
"One of the common mistakes and one of the things we get wrong is that most people don't do soil tests. Soil testing is like diagnosing the problem.
>"If you want to do anything on soil, you have to do soil testing.
"Food safety is key, but anyone who wants to do anything in the soil needs to test the soil. It's not about what you want to plan. Don't just say you want to plant corn, you must test the soil before planting.
"Our institute was established by Act of Parliament in 2017, the mandate given to us is to regulate the profession of soil scientist in Nigeria and how to protect the soil. We are to regulate the use of land in the country.
"The world is changing now, as an institute, we have developed an application where all the problems related to agriculture can be solved".
The NISS Area Coordinator, Professor James Adediran, explained in his remarks that the workshop was organized to improve links between soil scientists and other stakeholders.
He added that the workshop will improve information sharing among stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
"We are here to teach our farmers all the necessary information about the new application developed recently.
"This workshop is another step forward to strengthen the participation of farmers and extension agents in knowledge-based information technologies that will improve the link between soil scientists and agricultural actors".
In a bid to boost food production, the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has unveiled a mobile application, NISS Agro App, for farmers and extension workers to promote their businesses and access at the market.
The NISS revealed this during an application training for stakeholders from the northwestern states, held in Kano. Taking the floor, the Coordinator of the North West Zone of the Institute, Prof. Sama'ila S. Noma, noted that the ICT agricultural tool was developed by the NISS to ensure standard best practices in farming.
Represented by a professor of soil science, Professor Nafiu Abdu, Noma described the app as user-friendly, adding that it was developed to help farmers properly manage land use and boost production agricultural.
Noma said, “NISS is an organization responsible for ensuring soil quality in Nigeria, i.e. how soil fertility is maintained for efficient and sustainable agricultural production.
“NISS, in its attempt to make food available to the large population of Nigeria, always conducts trainings for farmers and extension workers on how they can properly manage Nigerian soils and also stimulate agricultural production.
“So this training is for farmers and extension workers to be trained in the use of the NISSAGRO app.”
This app is intended for collecting data on soil-related issues. We collect a lot of data on soil fertility, soil conservation and also agricultural products and how they market them. Noma urged the trainees to use the skills learned for their personal development and also to train other farmers.
Meanwhile, the NISS has advised farmers nationwide to test the soil before planting in it.
The institute gave the advice during a training organized by the NISS South West Zonal Office for farmers and extension officers on the NISSAGRO mobile application in Nigeria held recently in Ibadan, Nigeria. capital of Oyo State.
The NISS Registrar, Prof. Victor Chude, who spoke through Mr. Adewale Nafiu in addressing the participants, said that the major mistake made by the majority of farmers is the inability to test the soil before planting on it.
He said that most farmers suffer losses because they did not test the soil of their farm locations.
He advised that for Nigeria to ensure adequate nutrition and food security, farmers must test the soil before planting in it.
"One of the common mistakes and one of the things we get wrong is that most people don't do soil tests. Soil testing is like diagnosing the problem.
>"If you want to do anything on soil, you have to do soil testing.
"Food safety is key, but anyone who wants to do anything in the soil needs to test the soil. It's not about what you want to plan. Don't just say you want to plant corn, you must test the soil before planting.
"Our institute was established by Act of Parliament in 2017, the mandate given to us is to regulate the profession of soil scientist in Nigeria and how to protect the soil. We are to regulate the use of land in the country.
"The world is changing now, as an institute, we have developed an application where all the problems related to agriculture can be solved".
The NISS Area Coordinator, Professor James Adediran, explained in his remarks that the workshop was organized to improve links between soil scientists and other stakeholders.
He added that the workshop will improve information sharing among stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
"We are here to teach our farmers all the necessary information about the new application developed recently.
"This workshop is another step forward to strengthen the participation of farmers and extension agents in knowledge-based information technologies that will improve the link between soil scientists and agricultural actors".
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