The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina has said there would be high yield in farm produce, when farmers attach great importance to soil testing before cultivation.

          Dr. Odedina made this known in Abeokuta, while hosting delegates from the National Institute of Soil Science (NISS), South-West Zone, saying the practice of soil testing would help farmers plant right in order to solve the challenge of low yield.

          He said the Ministry was ready to partner relevant agencies that could help realise the agricultural agenda of the State, noting that the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun recognises the essence of soil science to agricultural development, which informed the decision to engage the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) on the evaluation of soil across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

          "We have high-level investors who want to grow large hectares of land, so that young people can go into primary production and supply industries with raw materials, but they want to evaluate the soil first.

          "This is why we are happy to collaborate with NISS in addition to agencies we have partnerships with, in the area of evaluation of soil for corrective or validation purposes, so as not to get caught in the area of non-productivity of primary production", Odedina said.

          Also speaking the Zonal Coordinator, NISS, Prof. James Adediran said the Institute was established to tackle issues of soil degradation, stating that it is available to work with government agencies to achieve the agricultural agenda of food security, as well as advise farmers on the care of the soil so as to ensure bountiful harvest.

          Adediran admonished farmers to give due recognition to the importance of soil and its care, urging them to tap into the Institute's wealth of knowledge, with registered expert soil scientists, who are ready to take sample of their soils for testing and interpret the content of the soil to benefit the crop to be cultivated by the farmers.

          "We train farmers on the kind of crop to plant, what type of fertilizer to use, when to use it and how to apply it", he added.

          Highlight of the event was a presentation of meritorious award to Dr. Odedina.