Some farmers in Bauchi have expressed concern over the high cost of fertilisers this cropping season. 

They said the trend had forced most farmers to abandon cultivation of maize and rice for crops that require minimal or no fertiliser application.

A cross-section of the farmers, who spoke in separate interviews in Bauchi, called for proactive measures to guard against the food crisis in the country. 

A check in Bauchi Central and Muda Lawal markets revealed that fertiliser prices had increased by about 15 per cent since the start of the cropping season. 

A 50-kilogramme bag of NPK brand of fertilisers was sold between N30,000 and N60,000 as against N23,000 and N50,000, at the beginning of the cropping season.

The urea brand of the commodity was sold between N47,000 and N50,000, as opposed to its old price of N35,000, depending on its quality.

Mr Audu Simon, a maize grower, said most farmers have opted for crops that require less or no fertiliser application, such as millet, sorghum, soybeans, groundnuts, and beans. 

He said that it was no longer viable for farmers to grow rice and maize due to the exorbitant fertiliser prices.

“We sold our produce at a loss last season, and we can’t afford fertiliser prices now,” he said.

Marka Abass, spokesperson for the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria, said the trend had forced most women farmers to abandon maize and rice cultivation and embrace vegetable production.

She attributed the hike in fertiliser prices to a lack of its availability, despite various interventions by the state and federal governments. 

Also, Usman Umar, a member of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, advocated for proactive measures to regulate fertiliser prices in the country.

“We need urgent intervention. If this continues, its implications on national food security will be severe,” he said.

Aliyu Gital, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, stated that the Bauchi Fertiliser Blending Company had increased its production capacity to meet the growing demand and enhance farmers’ access to the commodity. 

(NAN)