• Marks World Environment Day with OCP Africa
The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia State has announced its milestone on the establishment of a system that will regenerate the soil and sustain its fertility.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Professor Chiedozie Egesi, who disclosed this during the 2024 World Environment Day commemoration at the Institute, described the feat as an important step towards revolutionising agricultural practices to suit the changing world.
He said the Regenerative Agroforestry Farm was established to achieve various purposes, including the conservation of indigenous economic trees that are almost going into extinction.
Egesi said the motivation behind the establishment was to find a way to make the land or soil to regenerate itself for sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural production.
He said: “The regenerative agroforestry farm will serve as a ‘Carbon farm’ involving agricultural practices that will enhance the capacity of the soil, trees and crops to capture and store carbon dioxide (Co2) from the atmosphere. By increasing the organic carbon content of soils, carbon farming not only helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations but also improves soil health and productivity.
“Establishing a regenerative agroforestry farm presents a holistic approach to farming that delivers multiple benefits and not only contributes significantly to mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon but also enhances soil health, increases biodiversity etc.”
The institute also used the Environment Day to lay foundation stone and declare open a five-hectare regenerative agroforestry farm.
Speaking on the Environment Day with the theme: “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience,” the Executive Director indicated that the Institute will soon create a Climate Change Desk Office, and urged the government, businesses, scientists, farmers, and individuals to play roles in promoting and adopting practices that protect and restore the country’s environment, stating that supporting regenerative agricultural practices is a powerful way to contribute to this mission.
The Southeast representative in the North East Development Commission Board, Sam Onuigbo, who was also the keynote presenter, commended the NRCRI on the Regenerative Agroforestry Farm establishment.
He reiterated the call on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for regulating educational curriculum in Nigeria to integrate Climate Change into the various disciplines and subjects across at all educational levels.
The Head of Agronomy, OCP Africa, Dr Donald Madukwe, in his presentation said the single most efficient and cost-effective input that can increase the productivity of crops is fertiliser- be it organic or inorganic (mineral), reiterating the importance of integrated soil fertility management.
He added that fertiliser use, following the 4R Nutrient Stewardship could sustainably increase crop production, especially root and tuber crops, nuts, grains etc, and reduce environmental degradation.
