Agricultural stakeholders have called for fertiliser recommendations tailored to local soil conditions, saying the approach would improve nutrient-use efficiency, reduce waste and help farmers achieve better yields.
The commitment was made on Tuesday at the Nigeria Fertiliser Summit 2026 in Abuja, where researchers, policymakers, fertiliser manufacturers, regulators, development partners and farmers’ representatives discussed strategies for sustainable phosphorus management and improved food production.
The summit, themed “Phosphorus and Food Security: Challenges in Food Production Systems in Nigeria,” was organised by the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), with the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as co-conveners.
Speaking at the event, Dr Bello Shehu, Senior Agronomist at the Regional Hub for Fertiliser and Soil Health for West and Sahel, based at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said phosphorus was critical to root development, crop growth and grain formation.
He explained that phosphorus availability differed across locations because of variations in soil characteristics, farming practices and growing conditions, making uniform fertiliser recommendations unsuitable for every farm.
Shehu said improving agricultural productivity required more than increasing fertiliser application, stressing the need to ensure farmers had access to appropriate products and dependable advice on application rates, timing and methods.
Citing the hub’s 2025 site-specific nutrient recommendation findings for maize and rice in northern Nigeria, he said phosphorus requirements varied from zero to more than 60 kilogrammes of phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) per hectare within the same target area.
“This demonstrates that uniform fertiliser rates may not meet crop nutrient needs efficiently and underscores the importance of tailoring recommendations to local conditions,” he said.
To address the challenge, Shehu said the hub was developing enhanced digital soil maps incorporating important soil characteristics, including available phosphorus, by combining existing soil records with new field observations.
He added that the hub was supporting national soil information systems in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo, while contributing to a regional platform designed to improve access to reliable soil data.
According to him, site-specific nutrient recommendations were also being validated and integrated into AKILIMO 2.0, a digital advisory platform that combines fertiliser guidance with practical agronomic information to help farmers improve input use.
“Improving phosphorus management is not simply about increasing fertiliser application. It is about understanding what different soils and crops need and ensuring farmers have access to the right products and best advice,” he said.
Shehu urged stakeholders to strengthen the connection between research findings, policymaking, the fertiliser industry and agricultural extension services to ensure farmers could apply scientific recommendations effectively.
He called for coordinated action to improve soil health through balanced fertiliser application, stronger soil information systems and accessible advisory services.
Also speaking, IAR&T Executive Director, Prof. Gabriel Oluwatosin, said the summit was focused on helping farmers obtain better returns from every unit of fertiliser applied.
He said the gathering provided an opportunity for stakeholders to develop policy and investment frameworks that would promote sustainable phosphorus management, improve nutrient-use efficiency and strengthen national food security.
Oluwatosin added that the summit sought to advance a coordinated national strategy built on evidence-based decisions, precision nutrient management, quality fertiliser production, effective regulation and strategic investment.
He stressed that cooperation among government institutions, universities, industry players and development partners was essential to improving phosphorus-use efficiency and agricultural productivity.
According to him, declining soil fertility, phosphorus depletion, nutrient mining and inefficient fertiliser application were contributing to poor crop yields and food insecurity in Nigeria.
He also identified inadequate soil-specific recommendations, concerns over fertiliser quality, poor nutrient management and limited investment in responsible fertiliser use as persistent challenges facing the sector.
“The workshop is therefore convened to foster multi-stakeholder solutions, promote innovative technologies, strengthen fertiliser value chains and develop policy pathways that will enhance national phosphorus security and agricultural resilience,” he said.
