Workshop on Laboratory Procedures and Analysis of Soil, Crop and
Water for Agricultural Services

Attendance for this workshop was somehow low; it was not unconnected with the strike action by our various institutions of higher learning. However, the workshop, which took place at the Institute's Headquarters on Monday 12th – Friday16th October 2009 was fully prepared for by the Institute. The workshop was to acquaint participants with the latest analytical techniques and procedures for soil, water, plant, fertilizers and other agro based sample.

The workshop treated courses on soil sampling and sampling preparation; plant sampling and analysis techniques; tissue culture techniques; soil analysis for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, micro nutrients, exchangeable acidity, soil pH, organic mineralogical analytical procedures; plant analysis for total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium; fertilizer analysis for total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium; quality assurance in soil, plant and fertilizer analysis and water analysis.

Mr. J.I Osuh, Director, Education Training and Inspectorate Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), in his welcome address, stressed the need for the participants at the workshop to take advantage of the well equipped laboratory and the highly experienced facilitators for the workshop.

In the goodwill messages by the other directors Mr. J.L Musa and Mr. F.O. Sunmonu, the participants were advised to take the workshop very seriously as it would bring development to their profession and add value to their work.

The training workshop was declared opened by the Registrar/DG/CEO of the Institute Dr. I. F. Ijagbone, who was personally present at the opening ceremony of the 11 th training workshop of the Institute. In his opening address he mentioned that the training workshop was organized in line with the advert placed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture last year and it was a way, by the Institute to respond to the Federal Government's seven-point agenda especially in the area of food and agricultural services. He further assured the participants that poor attendance at the workshop would not affect the quality of the workshop and urged them to participate in every facet of the workshop and to register with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology to enable them practice as qualified and certified technologists.

So many well researched papers were presented at the workshop, amongst, which were regulation of laboratory practice – The Role of NISLT; introduction to laboratory analysis of soil, crop, water and environmental samples; preparation of standard solutions for soil, plant and fertilizer analyses; soil sampling and sample preparations for analyses; plant sampling and sample preparation for analyses; analytical techniques for soil samples; analytical techniques for plant samples; analytical techniques for fertilizer samples; water sampling and techniques of analyses for agricultural purposes; tissue culture techniques; quality assurance in soil, plant and fertilizer analyses and safety practice in the laboratory.

During the practical sessions it was explained that soil could be evaluated by various means like nutrient deficiency symptoms, plant analysis, field and green house trials and chemical soil test but that chemical soil test was the most preferable because it is rapid, reasonably accurate, relatively inexpensive and it adapts to routine procedures. Participants were told that the institute had developed an initiative of the National Inventory of Science Equipment Programme with an objective of identifying equipment problems in various institutes and research laboratories in Nigeria. The importance of fertilizer analysis was stressed as being a process by which the correct amount of fertilizer could be calculated, to ascertain the contents of bags when labels are removed, to confirm the manufacturer's claim and for quality control. It was re-emphasized that to ensure consistency and efficiency, sample handling, preservation, storage, and transportation procedures must be properly and accurately documented and adhered to. The four important stages in micro propagation were referred to as culture initiation, bud multiplication, plantlet regeneration and acclimatization stages.

 At the end of the workshop participants recommended that the Federal Government of Nigerian should continually fund the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology so that it can achieve its mandate. The Institute should ensure regular resource visitations and accreditations to laboratories. That the Institute should work on the possibility of having offices in each geo–political zones in Nigeria. That the training workshop should be extended to two weeks and more time should be allotted for practical sessions during subsequent workshops. It was suggested that the welfare of members of the institute should be part of the institute's daily pursuit by encouraging employers to pay members full entitlements as approved by the Government. It was also recommended that the Federal Government should make funds available for collaboration between the Institute and other Biotechnology based organizations in a bid to find a lasting solution to food and agricultural problems in Nigeria.

The closing ceremony was packed with it usual excitement and funfair, Mr. J.I. Osu, Director, Education, Training and Inspectorate, opined that everything was put in place to transfer knowledge in the area covered by the workshop and hoped that participant had knowledge that could translate into production to enhance development in the country. He further explained to those in attendance during the closing ceremony that tests were administered at the beginning and end of the workshop and that there was considerable improvement in performance in the post test.

Mr. Yusuf Nuhu one of the participants in his comment observed that Agricultural Services could benefit other areas of science oriented technologist, he then urged the Institute to extend the workshop in Agricultural Services to all science oriented technologist. The Class Governor, Mr. Salisu Junaidu Tukur, thanked the Institute for organizing the workshop and prayed that the workshop should be organized frequently.

Dr. Ighodalo F. Ijagbone, the Registrar/CEO, in his closing remarks commended the participant at the workshop, he said they did well, looking at the bench march mark set by the Director ETI to gage the gains of the participants. He advised that the knowledge gained should be converted to profit the country.

 At the end of the training workshop, participants were given Certificates and CDs containing contact of resource persons; members of participants and their contacts; group photographs and lecture notes.

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