Institute, Indorama commence global soil doctors programme

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) in collaboration with Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Ltd. (IEPL), have 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 on sustainable soil management.

Prof. Victor Chude, Registrar of NISS stated this in an interview with the newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

He identified soil doctors as champion farmers that 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 Organisation (FAO) provides doctors with training, educational material among others.

The registrar said that the programme 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 to associations involved in promoting the global programme, and work closely with government agencies, research centres, soil science societies, universities, NGOs among others,”he said.

Chude said interested farmers in the community would receive general training to introduce the global soil doctors’ programme, and promote sustainable soil management.

According to him, this can be done through a selection process; the top 10 farmers selected will receive a 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 manual, containing 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.