From Henrietta Ashikodi/Umuahia
A Professor of soil science at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, (MOUAU), Abia State, Professor Mabel Ifeoma Onwuka
has expressed worry over poor soil texture in the southeast region, advocating for proactive measures to mitigate looming food insecurity.
Onwuka, who disclosed this on Tuesday during a community outreach organized in collaboration with Peri-Urban Agricultural unit of National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, at Umuajata Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA,
She disclosed that so many Nigeria families are facing hunger as prices of food items are in the increase while she calls on Nigerians to begin to grow some of the crops they consume in their homes
Prof. Onwuka identified bush burning, population pressure, climate change, erosion, indiscriminate use of fertilizers, among others as major factors that affect the soil negatively and lead to poor yields.
The professor of soul science, also warned farmers against planting crops at dumpsites, adding that it could lead to cancer.
She revealed that the presence of heavy metals like mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), among others would be absorbed by crops and may lead to cancer and other health conditions.
Onwuka used the occasion to demonstrate to the women Biochar Production and how to convert their domestic and agricultural waste into organic fertilizer, urging Abia farmers to take advantage of MOUAU community services outreaches to boost food production.
She however lamented the inability of the rural women to access fertilizers, while noting that the reason of the rural outreach to farmers was to extend new research innovations to them.
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