Workshop: NISS Trains South West Soil Scientists To Boost Soil Through Modern Technology

Soil scientists have been advised to make use of the technological improvements to ensure that soil is properly managed for better future productivity while farmers should also be educated by soil scientist to boost food productions in the country.

This advice was given by the president and chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science, Prof. Ayo Ogunkunle during the capacity building workshop for soil scientists in South West Nigeria held at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, IAR&T, Moor Plantation Ibadan.

Prof. Ogunkunle during his opening remarks disclosed that technological advancement is taking place in all the spheres of life and urged soil scientist to key into the system so that their impact will be felt in the society which according to him will make them relevant.

" It is better we follow the trend and use modern equipment so that we will not lag behind but improved in our dealings to avoid been primitive" 

" We have to improve ourselves so as to catch up with the improvement that is going on in the world" 

He however expressed satisfaction that the institute has made tremendous impact in the lives of soil scientists and farmers in the five years existence of the institute with the use of modern technicalities to improve the lives of farmers.

He maintained that the existence of the NISS in IAR&T is for mutual establishment while pledging to add to the benefits of the institute , he however urged the participants to use their acquired knowledge at the workshop to boost food production in the country.

Earlier in her welcome address at the workshop  , the director of IAR&T Prof. Veronica Obatolu urged the participants to use the workshop to develop new ideas on how the soil can work together with other natural resources to boost agricultural productions .

She also encourage them to work on how to have better people within the country to work with the Federal Government to contribute to the growth of soil science through agriculture.

In his own words the registrar of NISS Prof. Victor Chude who was represented by Ms Acquine Onwukwe disclosed that the training is very crucial to the NISS , reason for it taken place in all the geo- political zones of the country simultaneously.

She stated that the training is crucial to make provision for how to manage the soil for positive and better agricultural productions .

" The population is growing and the soil is not expanding and with that reason their should be adequate training on how to improve the soil for better production" 

The South West NISS coordinator, Prof. James Adediran while also welcoming the participants enumerated some of the tremendous achievements of the NISS.

He stated that the workshop was organised to acquaint the Registered Soil Scientists with the activities of NISS nationally and in the south West to boost their strategies for sustainable soil management which according to him will make them better of .