The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has commenced nationwide stakeholder consultations towards reviewing and developing the Nigeria Agricultural Land and Soil Management Policy (NALSMP) 2027–2035.
The initiative, which began with a two-day North-West zonal workshop in Kano, is aimed at developing a sustainable and responsive framework for managing Nigeria’s agricultural land and soil resources.
The ministry said the review is critical to addressing growing threats such as soil degradation, erosion, nutrient depletion, deforestation, climate change, population growth and competing demands for land.
Director of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Olanipẹkun Oshadiya, said declining soil fertility and productivity could worsen food shortages and increase the country’s dependence on food imports.
He stressed that the exercise goes beyond updating an existing policy, describing it as an opportunity to create an inclusive, science-driven and actionable framework capable of addressing both current and emerging challenges in agriculture.
Other stakeholders, including farmers’ organisations, soil scientists, academics and representatives of the seven North-West states, also contributed to the consultation, emphasising the need for sustainable soil management as a foundation for long-term food security.
