Food insecurity, hunger seen as farmers fight rising costs 

As the rainy season approaches, farmers across parts of Nigeria, especially in the Northern Region, have raised fresh concerns over escalating production costs, warning that this trend could deepen food insecurity and worsen economic hardship for millions of households.

In separate interviews, farmers lamented the persistent increase in the costs of agricultural inputs and transportation, describing the situation as increasingly unsustainable despite their ongoing efforts to cultivate crops.

According to them, key factors affecting agricultural productivity have remained largely unchanged, even as the prices of fertilisers, seedlings, agrochemicals, and other essential inputs continue to rise sharply. This, they said, has forced many farmers to operate at a loss.

Williams Joseph Zamdai, a Commercial farmer, who produces for both household consumption and the market, expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as an unfavourable operating environment.

He identified high input costs, rising transportation costs, and increasing fuel prices as major constraints, noting that these factors had significantly eroded profit margins and discouraged large-scale farming.

“Security is a serious issue. Many farmers are afraid to access their farmlands because their safety cannot be guaranteed,” he said.

Zamdai also cited ongoing clashes between herders and farmers as a longstanding challenge, disrupting agricultural activities in rural communities. He added that the lack of a lasting solution had compounded farmers’ difficulties.

Reflecting on the previous farming season, he described it as a total loss.

“I spent over N2.5 million on my farm last year, but what I harvested cannot fetch more than N1 million in the market,” he said. “Farming is the only business we know, but it has become increasingly frustrating.”

As a result, he said he is considering scaling down to subsistence farming to avoid further financial losses.

“We may only farm for our own consumption going forward. Investing heavily in commercial farming now feels like a waste of resources, time, and energy,” he added.

Zamdai also alleged that the current political climate is affecting food availability, claiming that some politicians have stockpiled grains for campaign purposes, thereby distorting the market.

“We are in a political season. Politicians have stockpiled grains, affecting the market. The fate of farmers has been dashed,” he said.

He called on the Government to intervene urgently by addressing rising input costs, improving transportation infrastructure, and ensuring adequate security for farmers.

Another farmer, Jonathan Babangida, described the 2025 farming season as particularly challenging, citing heavy financial losses despite large-scale cultivation of rice, beans, maize, and soybeans.

“Chemical fertilisers were very expensive. We bought NPK for between N50,000 and N60,000, while urea sold for N35,000 to N40,000,” he said.

He added that the cost of herbicides and pesticides surged significantly, rising from about N1,500–N2,000 to as much as N5,000 or N7,000.

Babangida also highlighted the rising costs of mechanised farming, noting that hiring tractors and harvesters has become increasingly expensive due to higher fuel prices.

“To harrow land using a tractor used to cost about N80,000, but it has increased to N120,000, and it may rise further,” he said.

Despite these rising costs, returns remain low. He noted that a 100kg bag of maize previously sold for N18,000–N20,000, and although prices have increased to about N25,000, profits remain minimal.

He further explained that expenses related to storage, packaging, and loan repayments have added to farmers’ financial burdens.

“Many of us borrowed money, and we lost. Now we are battling with the effects,” he said.

As the new farming season approaches, Babangida said many farmers are scaling down operations, with some opting for subsistence farming instead of commercial production.

He added that some farmers are shifting away from capital-intensive crops such as rice and maize towards soybeans, which require less investment and fertiliser.

Like Williams, Babangida identified insecurity as a major concern, noting that farmers are increasingly reluctant to cultivate distant farmlands due to safety risks, including persistent herder-farmer conflicts.

He urged the Government to subsidise agricultural inputs and ensure that such support reaches genuine farmers.

“Farming has become mechanised. Government should provide tractors, harvesters, and other machines at subsidised rates,” he said.

He also called for improved security measures, including strengthening forest guards to protect farmlands and rural communities.

The duo warned that if these challenges persist without timely intervention, Nigeria may face a significant decline in food production in the coming months, potentially leading to higher food prices and increased hunger nationwide.