{"id":1357,"date":"2025-06-26T20:05:48","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.futminna.edu.ng\/?p=1357"},"modified":"2025-06-26T20:05:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:05:51","slug":"sustainable-soil-water-management-crucial-to-food-security-prof-musa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.futminna.edu.ng\/?p=1357","title":{"rendered":"SUSTAINABLE SOIL, WATER MANAGEMENT CRUCIAL TO FOOD SECURITY \u2013 PROF MUSA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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By Mohammed Abubakar\/Zaniab Lawal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efficient natural resource management remains central to feeding the world\u2019s growing population, Engr. Prof. John Jiya Musa has said. The distinguished Agricultural Engineer made this known while delivering the 115th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) on Thursday, June 26, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Titled \u201cSoil and Water Conservation Practices: A Tool for Sustainable Food Security,\u201d the lecture emphasized the vital role of soil and water preservation in ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and national food stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Musa, a specialist in Soil and Water Engineering, advocated for the widespread adoption of sustainable conservation techniques. He emphasized that improved irrigation efficiency and crop yields begin with understanding water infiltration into soil a critical component of effective water management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing infiltration models such as Richard\u2019s and Kostiakov\u2019s equations, Prof. Musa explained that cultivated lands consistently recorded higher infiltration rates compared to fallowed areas, attributing the difference to variations in soil structure, groundwater levels, and rainfall patterns. \u201cSandy loam soils absorbed the most water, followed by loamy sand and clay,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The professor also spotlighted irrigation engineering as a foundation for agricultural resilience. Referencing infrastructure such as the Zukuchi irrigation structure and small-scale tube well systems, he noted that Nigeria\u2019s underutilized Fadama lands could significantly enhance dry season farming if properly harnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite promising technologies, Prof. Musa lamented slow adoption due to limited awareness, lack of modern control systems, and land tenure issues. \u201cWe developed computer-based tools to manage water delivery effectively, but uptake remains low,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to environmental threats, Prof. Musa presented findings from his studies on heavy metal contamination in farming soils near dumpsites in Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states. He warned that metals such as copper, iron, and zinc introduced through improper waste disposal are now entering the food chain. \u201cCrops cultivated on former waste sites pose increasing health risks,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another overlooked challenge, according to him, is the impact of cattle movement on soil health. Research conducted in Abeokuta revealed that repeated trampling by livestock reduces soil porosity, causing compaction and ultimately degrading land quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In closing, Prof. Musa underscored the urgent need for integrated soil management practices including agroforestry, crop rotation, and cover cropping to prevent erosion and improve fertility. \u201cConservation is not just scientific; it is also a socio-economic necessity,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called for robust government policies and incentives such as subsidies, tax exemptions, and farmer training to promote sustainable practices. He also recommended integrating indigenous knowledge with modern technology, scaling up extension services, and investing in cutting-edge research to address emerging soil and water challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chairing the event, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta commended Prof. Musa for his decades of impactful research and service. He described the lecture as \u201ctimely, relevant, and a wake-up call for action in tackling Nigeria\u2019s food insecurity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the message is unmistakable: \u201cAs Nigeria battles climate change, population growth, and food shortages, sustainable agriculture grounded in soil and water conservation is non-negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lecture drew a wide audience of academics, researchers, policymakers, students, and community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights of the event included the presentation of gifts to the inaugural lecturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credit Elijah Yisa<\/p>\n\n\n\n