The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), in collaboration with Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Ltd. (IEPL), has commenced implementation of the Global Soil Doctors programme.
The Global Soil Doctors Programme is a farmer-to-farmer training initiative that aims to build the capacity of farmers for sustainable soil management.
Prof. Victor Chude, Registrar of NISS, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
He identified soil doctors as champion farmers who assist and train other farmers in various communities across the country.
Chude explained that the global soil doctors programme initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provides doctors with training and educational material, among others.
The registrar said that the program, which will be implemented across the country, is being funded by IEP while the institute provides the technical support.
“The soil doctor is a champion farmer, educating other farmers in the community to manage their land and successfully improve their livelihood.
“The Global Soil Partnership (GSP) provides facilitation for the doctors to exchange knowledge and experience with other countries.
“They help the community by receiving training on sustainable soil management, free inputs for demonstration plots, local recognition, free soil testing kits, and free training needs.
“They become the focal points for associations involved in promoting the global program and work closely with government agencies, research centres, soil science societies, universities, and NGOs, among others, he said.
Chude said interested farmers in the community would receive general training to introduce the global soil doctors’ program and promote sustainable soil management.
According to him, this can be done through a selection process; the top 10 farmers selected will receive higher-level training regarding problem-solving and reporting feedback.
“The programme promoters are provided with a toolbox consisting of an implementation manual providing guidelines on how to implement the programme.
Others are soil testing methods manuals, which contain easy methods to measure soil properties in the field, and other educational materials.
“Soil doctors chosen by trainers receive technical and practical training based on the farmers’ needs and local priorities, he said.
The registrar said the programme would be implemented at the national and local levels through a third party called ‘promoter’ responsible for the training and dissemination of soil testing kits at the local level.
He said that the programme could also be implemented within the framework of another programme or project that is already working with farmers focusing on soils. (NAN)
