Soil Scientists Hail Odedina, Award Him For Excellent Performance
Days after receiving award of best Agric Commissioner, the Commission for Agriculture in Ogun state, Dr Adeola Odedina has received another Award of Excellence from the The Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS).
According to the institute, Odedina was considered for the award due to his outstanding performance in making Ogun and the Agricultural sector proud.
The Institute presented the award during a courtesy call on Dr Odedina in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta to raise awareness on its existence as well as encourage farmers to patronise professionals in determining the quality of Soil for Agricultural purposes in order to guarantee productivity and better yields.
NISS is primarily charged with the responsibility for regulating the profession of Soil Science in Nigeria.
While presenting the award, the NISS South West Coordinator, Professor James Adediran said the Commissioner was well known to him as someone who is always working for success.
He said,” Two decades ago, I have known the Commissioner and I am not surprised that what we see on Televsion showcasing the activities of this Ministry by his leadership were happening through him”
“For that reason, the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science notes that you are at the Vanguard of promoting Agriculture and making the state proud; making the Governor proud. We therefore contended that the stride of this man is worth appreciating to encourage him to do more”.
Professor Adediran stressed that the Soil Society of Nigeria recognised the problems associated with soil management and administration and as a result recommend to the National Assembly the need for the establishment of an Institute of Soil Science which the government embraced.
“We are not saying that farmers do not know about soil, but they should give full recognition to the importance of soil and how they can take care of the soil through the engagement of professionals”.
” The Nigerian Institute of Soil Science have experts that knows about soil that can help the farmers to test the soil and interprete what is inside the soil for the benefit of the plant the farmer wants to plant”
Speaking on the efforts of the current administration in the state to promote the best farming practices, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedima said since the inception of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State, it had recognised the importance of good soil to Agricultural productivity.
This according to him had conditioned its resolve to invest in soil test, evaluation and management.
This is with a view to promote agricultural productivity and yield, knowing full well that using the right soil in planting is a primary prerequisite towards promoting agricultural productivity.
Dr. Odedina Said: “I want to tell you that the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun recognises the importance of soil to agricultural yield and productivity early enough. That is why, one of the very few jobs we gave out in this industry at inception was the job to the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training IAR&T to evaluate soil in the twenty local government area of the state”.
According to the Commissioner, when the government received the report, it called a stakeholders’ meeting to review the result and it was a surprise that the local farmers were complementing the result through their various submissions.
“This is to tell you that as government, we recognise the importance of soil.So,I can tell you that this visit is timely. And ,now that I know that the institute exists, and it is ready to carry out that function,we shall be working with you,either with investors or on our youths programme, so that we can evaluate our soil, so that we do not get caught in the area of non – productivity of primary production”, he said.
While assuring the Institute of collaboration and support, Dr. Odedina:
“We now have the institute of Soil science that can partner with players in food and farm sector, so that we achieve food security. So,I can assure you on behalf of our Governor that Ogun State will partner with the Institute of Soil Science of Nigeria”.
