In Orhuwhorun, urbanization is closing in fast. Farmland is shrinking, but families still need to eat. To survive, farmers plant the same plots repeatedly, pouring on fertilizer in the hope of rescuing their crops. The result has been rising costs, declining yields, and growing frustration.
In December 2024, twelve farmers came together to try something different in the town, located in the north-eastern part of the Udu Local Government Area of Delta State in Nigeria. With the support of Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), they turned to community science—a way to put scientific tools in the hands of ordinary people. For many, it was the first time they heard that soil itself could be tested, and that its hidden properties could reveal why crops were struggling.
The training was simple but powerful. Farmers learned how to collect soil samples properly, drying and sieving them before sending them to the lab. They asked questions, shared doubts, and slowly began to see the soil not as a mystery, but as something that could be understood.
When the results arrived, the findings spoke volumes. Nitrogen levels were acceptable, but phosphorus and potassium—the nutrients plants need most—were often low. Some soils were highly acidic, while others had very high conductivity, meaning valuable nutrients could easily wash away. Suddenly, the yellowing cassava leaves, and stunted maize crops made sense.
The farmers also discovered that solutions were within reach. They could neutralize acidity by using locally available materials such as burnt palm bunch stems or dolomitic lime. They could restore fertility with organic manure and protect the soil by planting cover crops like melon or ground nuts. One farmer said: “I used to think fertilizer is fertilizer. Now I know the soil tells me which one to use and how much.” Another added: “I finally understand why my cassava kept failing—it wasn’t bad luck; it was the soil.”
What began as a small workshop became a turning point. The farmers left with confidence, knowing that science was not beyond their reach. They understood that farming smarter—not harder—was the way forward, even on shrinking land.
The lesson from Orhuwhorun is clear: when communities are empowered with knowledge, they can protect their soil, reduce waste, and secure food for their families. Science, once distant and abstract, has become a tool in their hands—a tool they can use to farm with hope instead of despair.
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