Forestalling the Gloomy Food Security in Nigeria through Conservation of Soil Resources

Abstract

Soil forms the basis of most living things in the biosphere by providing food nutrients to plants, animals and human beings. This paper has examined ways and processes in which Nigerian soils are being over used mercilessly in an attempt to raise sufficient food to meet the dietary requirements of the teeming population. The paper argued that the traditional methods of bush burning, clean clearing continuous cropping and over-grazing exacerbate soil erosion which can negate the food security agenda the successive regimes have been trying to attain. The paper appraised the impact of soil mismanagement across the world on the past and present societies and then concluded by recommending the conservative measures to pursue in order to rejuvenate Nigerian soil resources and avert the gloomy, looming food crisis.