Nigerian farmers are facing mounting challenges, warning that cheaper food prices are coming at an increasingly painful cost to production. The farming community says soaring input costs, combined with security concerns, are threatening the viability of their operations.
Farmers report that prices of essential inputs—including fertilisers, insecticides, improved seeds, agrochemicals, labour, tractor services, and other farm machinery—have surged sharply, eroding profit margins and making agricultural activities less sustainable.
Their concerns come as the federal government celebrates a significant decline in food prices. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari announced over the weekend that prices of essential food commodities have fallen by roughly 50% nationwide. He attributed the development to reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.
Kyari made the remarks during the quarterly citizens and stakeholders’ engagement retreat on agricultural transformation, highlighting government efforts to stabilise the sector.
“The administration has placed food security and the safety of farming communities at the heart of its policy agenda since taking office, recognising agriculture as critical to national stability and economic growth,” Kyari said.
While the government celebrates the improvement in affordability, farmers caution that without support to tackle high production costs and insecurity, sustaining the country’s agricultural output remains a pressing challenge.
