Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As part of efforts to boost agriculture among rural farmers the Center for Gender, Youth and Child Development (CGYCD) Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, has commenced training of Abia farmers on the recovery of degraded soil.
The training was in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence for Root Crops Research and Development (CECORD); and Hope for Farmers Women and Girls Initiative (HOFWGI).
According to the bodies involved, the exercise is aimed at recovering lost agricultural soil due to the effects of climate change.
CGYCD Director and founder of HOFWGI, Professor Mabel Onwuka, who addressed rural farmers from Ahuwa Oboro Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, said the training would help farmers improve their living standard.
“Our aim is to reach out to small holder farmers in rural communities with novel techniques in agriculture to boost their income and improve their family nutrition,” she added.
Professor Onwuka decried the menace of soil erosion especially in the South-East.
She also educated the farmers on the production of biochar (organic soil fertiliser) produced from recycling of agricultural waste through the process of pyrolysis.
According to her, Biochar can serve as fertiliser as well as squeeze carbon for climate change mitigation.
“Biochar is a wonderful soil input because it can be produced from any agricultural and industrial solid waste materials. It is eco-friendly, cheap to produce and full of crop nutrients,” she said.
Professor Onwuka identified the major causes of soil degradation in the South-East as heavy rainfall, runoff, leaching of soil nutrients and soil acidity.
According to her, other causes of soil degradation include “continuous cultivation of same piece of land, burning of land practices, continuous tilling of the land, and inappropriate application rates of mineral fertiliser to the soil.
She also included overgrazing by animals, deforestation, monoculture, urban expansion, industrialisation, land use changes, soil biodiversity loss, soil contamination, and climate change among others as other causes of soil degradation.
Professor Onwuka encouraged farmers to plant cover crops, practise crop rotation, use of the right rate and type of fertilisers, curing of organic manure before applying to the soil, to recover degraded soil.
Highlight of the training was the practical demonstration of biochar production to the farmers, distribution of solid and liquid organic fertilisers, amaranthus seeds to the farmers by members of CGYCD and HOFWGI.
The groups also distributed sleeping mats and children’s wears to the trainees.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the farmers, Mr Emmanuel Okoro, applauded the facilitators of the programme for their kind gesture to build capacities of the farmers at no cost on the participants.
The training according to him, was the first of its kind farmers in the community would receive.
