Abraham Ogboghodo, a Professor of Soil Microbiology, University of Benin (UNIBEN), has called for the development of a national soil map for the country and proper funding of institutions for research purposes to check poor food harvest.
Ogboghodo, while speaking during an interview with the press in Benin, explained that the essence of having a national soil map could not be overemphasised as it would save the country from poor food harvest as well as appropriation of land for best use.
In his words: “It is a pity that we have a country of over sixty years old and we cannot boast of a soil map for the country and there are experts in our universities and research institutions that can help us develop these soil maps.
“We can begin by telling universities to do the soil map in their locations and then collate all the maps together to get an entity.
“The advantage of a soil map is that we will be able to know the various crops that are suited for the different soils in the country.
“Farmers will not waste money cultivating in a land that is not suitable for planting a given crop. Also, banks will be careful about the types of loans they give for farming purposes. Before they give out loans for farming purposes, they will be able to know if the crop to be grown in a given area will do well.”
Speaking on research, Ogboghodo research facilities in Nigerian universities were getting old, while calling for better funding for education institutions to do research as there could not be development without research.
