Who We Are

The Federal Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, formerly known as Agricultural Land Resources existed as part of the Land and Water Division of the Federal Department of Agriculture from 1969-1975. It became a full Division of the Federal Department of Agriculture in 1975. On the 23^rd of April 1980, the President-in-council via memo CM (80) 163 approved the establishment of the Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services. The Department has presence in 11 States of the Federation.

Vision

Effective and continuous management of Nigeria’s Agricultural Land Resources on the basis of sustainability and enhanced productivity.

Mission

Maximizing the most efficient and effective use of the Agricultural Land Resources for guaranteed sustainability and improved productivity across the nation.

Our Mandate

1.Continuous inventory and assessment of Nigeria’s Agricultural Land Resources so as to put them into optimal use and monitor changes in their potential for agriculture through systematic soil survey and land evaluation as well as nutrient status of the various soils and appropriate fertilizer recommendations;

2. Identification and rehabilitation of degraded agricultural lands affected by drought, desertification encroachment, soil erosion and flood; and prevent the spread of these natural phenomena to other areas through effective protective measures; (efficient and effective land use planning and conservation strategic programs); and

3. Training and development of intermediate manpower needs in agriculture, organize short term refresher courses for all categories of farmers, develop Soil Conservation action programs for and provide extension services.

Federal Department of Agricultural Land Resources provides its services through the various Divisions viz:

Soil Survey and Land Evaluation Division;

The Division provides advisory services to farmers and other land users in:

1. Detailed soil survey of individual’s agricultural land holdings, community agricultural land and local government areas.
2. Capability classification of agricultural land holdings with a view to separating arable land from others (recreation, tourism, grazing, and forestry)
3. Suitability assessment of arable land for different crops (e.g. maize, cassava, rice, yams, sorghum), etc.

Land Use and Conservation Division;

• This division provides advisory services to land users in the following areas:
• Erosion control on agricultural lands
• Conservation agriculture
• Reclamation/Rehabilitation of degraded lands
• Drought and desertification control
•  Land use planning

Soil Fertility Management Division;

• The Division provides advisory services to farmers:
• In the management of problem soils, e.g. acid soils, salt-affected soils, vertisols and soils polluted by oil spillage
• Conducting fertility baseline surveys for appropriate fertilizer recommendations

Soil Testing and Laboratory Services Division;

The Soil Testing Division provides analytical services for soils, water, plants and fertilizers to stakeholders (farmers, students and institutions) through its Regional Soil Laboratories at Kaduna, Ibadan and Umudike.

Manpower Training;

The Federal Colleges of Land Resources Technology (FECOLART) Owerri, Imo State, created under the 4^th  national development plan of 1981-1985, but started its academic work in 1991/1992 session, and Kuru – Jos, created in 1968 were established for agricultural middle manpower development. The Colleges provides intermediate manpower training in the following areas:

• Soil Science and Technology (HND)
•  Agricultural Technology (ND)
• Agricultural Engineering Technology (ND HND)
• Surveying and Geoinformatics (ND)
• Agricultural Extension Management (HND)
• Pre– ND Science and Technology

Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Centre (GIS/RS Centre);
The Centre located in Wuse zone 5, Abuja, analyses spatial data (satellite imageries) with a view to
 producing soil maps, vegetation maps, maps on land degradation and delineating farmlands.
 It also collates and stores data on soils and other environmental elements in easily retrievable forms
 for the benefit of land users, researchers and students. 
 Offers training in Geographical information System and Remote Sensing in project management for    project management

Data Analyst, working with Arc GIS

GIS Lab Equipments

Projects of the Department

The following projects are currently being executed;

(i) National Soil Survey Programme (to provide soil data at semi-detailed level nation-wide);

(ii) Soil Fertility Management Programme – to identify, study, evaluate and maintain soil nutrient status and make appropriate fertilizer recommendations that are crop-specific regularly across agro-ecological zones of the country;

(iii) Identification, evaluation and reclamation of degraded agricultural lands occasioned by salinity, alkalinity, sandy or vertical soils, acidity, oil polluted and erosion (sheet and gully);

(iv) Promotion of Conservation Agriculture Technology among Nigerian farmers through State ADPs, farmers and commodity groups to ensure sustainable crop yield with minimum soil disturbance.

(v) Manpower training and capacity building in two colleges (Jos and Owerri);

(vi) Establishment of soil Extension services through the use of SOIL DOC in conjunction with the APDs and our three National Soil/Water Laboratories in Ibadan, Kaduna and Umudike.

(vii) Establishment of an Agricultural Land Resources Information platform that would serve as a vehicle to provide IT Infrastructure for Efficient and Effective Land Use Planning and Management. The overall objective is to set up and develop a very strong GIS base comprising of hardware and software communication infrastructure. The more specific objective is to establish a system of spatial planning that would provide the conceptional framework for defining and applying policies for land and natural resources conservation. The PROGIS/ Land Management Technology is to be used to plan to limit deforestation, stop further Land degradation, conserve resources and provide protection for the environment

(viii) Establishment and Maintenance of Agro-Forestry (AF) and Farmers Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) for Climate Change Adaptation. The aim of the programme is to;

• Address Climate Change Challenges by strengthening the capacity of small holders in vulnerable agro-ecological zones on the management of land and water resources 
• Enhance and transform small holder farmers by increasing the production capacity of crops and livestock through application of Sustainable Land and Water Management to utilize SLM approaches notably Water Harvesting of rain water and road runoffs.

                   Construction of Run-off Water Harvesting Structure in

                       Apa Local Government, Benue State.

Site Before Construction

Site After Construction

• Permanent Soil Cover, Minimum tillage and intensifying agroforestry principle to support crop-livestock system in the cultivated watersheds.
• Erosion control on Agricultural lands in some state of the Federal. The projects are funded by Ecological fund Office
• Run-off Water Harvesting Programmes, Land Reclamation, and effective monitoring and regulatory agricultural land use activities nation-wide