REPORT ON 2022 WORLD SOIL DAY CELEBRATION
- Post by: lmu
- November 3, 2023
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In line with the metrics and indicators of the United Nations Sustainable development goals, the College of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with the Landmark University SDG 15 (Life on land) organized this 28th LUCRID webinar in commemoration of the WORLD SOIL DAY with the theme: SOILS: WHERE FOOD BEGINS. The 28th LUCRID webinar which was anchored on SDG 15 (Life on land) held on the 5th of December, 2022 at the International Exhibition Centre, and was coordinated by the M.E, Mr. Babatunde Falana.
Following an opening prayer by Dr. S. K. Obaniyi and the University Anthem coordinated by the Centre for Systems and Information Services (CSIS), the event had a fly opening with addresses from the Director LUCRID, Dr A.A Adediran, who gave the prologue of the webinar, and Dr E.T. Alori gave the welcome remark.
Director LUCRID, Dr. A.A Adediran, giving the prologue of the webinar
Dr. E. T. Alori Head of Crop and Soil Science Programme and Team Lead of LMU SDG 15 (Life on Land) Research Group giving a welcome address
The Vice-Chancellor, Landmark University, Prof Charity O. Aremu in her speech said, “A nation that destroys its soil destroys herself”. She encourages us to take good care of our environment.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Charity Onye Aremu during her welcome speech
A student of College of Agriculture, by name Pipeloluwa Fagbola came up to recite a poem on the topic of discussion; soils: where food begins.
Queen Pipeloluwa Elizabeth Fagbola (student of LMU) reciting a poem on Soils: Where Food Begins
Following the reading of his citation by Dr. Abiodun Joseph guest speaker Prof. C.O Adejuyigbe, who is a seasoned faculty and an award-winning researcher, took the floor to speak virtually on the topic “SOILS: WHERE FOOD BEGINS.”
Dr. Abiodun Joseph reading the citation of Prof C.O Adejuyigbe
- The guest speaker “Prof C.O Adejuyigbe started the presentation by pointing out that the number of those facing acute food insecurity has exponentially increased – from 135 million to 345 million since 2019.
- He maintained that a total of 49 million people in 49 countries are at the edge of famine. He pointed out that according to Sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank, 2022), At least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry.
- Prof C.O Adejuyigbe outlined that Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with a population of 200 million and with an Annual population growth rate of approximately 2.7 per cent. 8.4 million People are food insecure and Over 3 million people internally displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states (WFP, 2022).
- The guest speaker pointed out that soil is the most important component on earth. He defined soil as a biologically active medium, he mentioned that without healthy soil food security cannot be attained.
- Prof Adejuyigbe mentioned 3 reasons why soils is regarded an important component according to FAO which are
a) Soil serves as a habitat for myriads of organisms; he mentioned a shocking discovery that there are more living organisms in a tablespoon of soil than there are people on earth.
B) It takes over 100 years to make 1cm of soil, which points out that restoring degraded soils is not an easy task, which is enough reason for us to pay attention to the soil on time.
C) Soil is the basis for food production, he buttressed that 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced in our soil.
- He pointed out that the key message soil and nutrition symposium that held early this year, 2022 is that soil is like a baby in that what we eat is a reflection of the health soil on which it is grown.
- Why soil day?
- A) Prof Adejuyigbe pointed out that World soil day is crucial because it is high time we focus our attention on the importance of soil health and its implication to food security, human well-being, and achievement of SDG.
Prof Adejuyigbe pointed out that according to the symposium, 3ways to improve the nutrient balance includes
- 1) mapping and montoring soil nutrients… he buttressed the need for a detailed soil Survey and Soil Fertility Mapping which is important to boost crop production.”
- 2) Promoting crop diversification and rotation…he mentioned some importance of these practice which include: improves nutrient use efficiency, prevents soil erosion , improve soil structure and increase crop yield.
- 3) Adding soil organic matter to boost soil health, he added that soil organic matter helps to hold up water up to 40% times its weight, Regulation of soil temperature, and source of certain plant of food element
- 4) Including micronutrients in soil fertilization plans to avoid deficiencies.
- 5) Wise use of fertilizer by assessing their quality, he reiterated that excessive use of fertilizer can lead to toxicity to plants and pollution of groundwater
6) Including alternative sources of nutrients such as biofertilization …he mentioned the use of biochar as an alternative source of nutrients to soil.
- In conclusion Prof C.O Adejuyigbe stressed that Soil varies in properties over even a short distance, thus soil variation needs to be factored into the adoption of practices for maintaining soil health for food security
- He advised that we need to make farmers aware of the need for soil testing so that they know how to improve the health of the soil.
Cross Sections of Participants
Dr. K. A. Adegbite asking a question after the presentation by the guest speaker
Following the presentations, the seasoned guest lecturers fielded questions from the participants. This was then followed by a webinar appraisal by Mr. Toluwalase Awe, a closing remark by Prof. O.M. Bamiro on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. C.O Aremu, and a vote of thanks by Dr. C. M. Aboyeji. The webinar ended with a closing prayer by Dr. Ayeni.
Some Participants at LMU 2022 World Soil Day Celebration
The Masters of Event Mr Babatunde Falana
The 28th LUCRID webinar of the university was nothing short of an insightful and impactful experience for all participants.
This was then followed by a webinar appraisal by Mr Toluwalase Awe, a closing remark by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. C.O Aremu and a vote of thanks by Dr. B.S. Fakinle. The webinar ended with a closing prayer by Mr. J.O Okoro. The 25th LUCRID webinar of the university was nothing short of an insightful and impactful experience for all participants.
Thank you
Dr Elizabeth Temitope Alori (RSS)
Landmark University Omuaran, Kwara State Nigeria
POEMS FOR THE WORLD SOIL DAY 2022
My name is soil
On this land I stand
On this same land you stand But have you ever asked yourself Who nurtures you?
You don’t need to think far
Because it is I
Day by day I get eroded Year by year I depreciate
Sooner or later, trouble in paradise!!
You might think it is not a big deal,
But I still produce your everyday meal
Once I am gone,
Everywhere you see will be an empty lawn
You all should repent
For all the carefree days you have spent
Yes! Life will disappear
Everything will be gone
By each passing year
You better wake up!
For now is the time to take action
Or you forever be angry because of hunger
FAGBOLA PIPELOKUWA ELIZABETH
POEM TWO
A world of technology,
A generation solely dependent on moving fast
With new methods of getting food
We slowly forget the past
I mean the past
Where all we ate were purely organic, fresh and clean
Ah, this is transition, this is change!
It has come so fast
What do you mean?
No more topsoil?
Hmm intensive mechanization
Still not minding the effect and impact it has on the soil
They say there is need to meet the growing population and so?
This soil needs to be conserved
For this is where food comes from.
DAVID NTIA
Soil: where food begins by Utiome David Demilade
Soil
Where food begins
The canvas for mother nature’s most magnificent masterpieces
The genesis to the amazing agricultural revelation
The start of what is said to be good, beneficial and delightful
I see you each day
With a smile on your face
Your natural brown elegance
Your ever fertile structure
You are a necessity to me but sometimes I stab you in the back
Your heart goes faint like a attack
And you die slowly
But now I have seen my mistakes
like jack and the bean stalk, I have come up in my understanding
I have torn off the blindfold of ignorance so I would never go back
The bible says, if the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Simply put, if the soil be destroyed, what can the farmer do?
He can only shed tears
But what I would do
Is to honour myself by honoring you