By
James Simon
As the rainy season sets in, farmers in the Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State are lamenting the sharp increase in the cost of farm inputs, warning that many may be forced to abandon commercial farming this year.
Fufore, one of the leading rice-producing areas in the state, relies heavily on farming as the primary source of livelihood for the majority of its residents.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, farmers from Gurin and Dasin Hausa villages disclosed that surging prices of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and labour—coupled with persistently low market prices for produce—could keep them from participating in the 2026 wet season farming.
Suleiman Isa Dasin and Lydia Wilson, both from Dasin Hausa village, expressed similar concerns, noting that if the trend continues, many farmers may not even break even.
According to the farmers, the situation is already forcing many to resort to subsistence farming for household consumption instead of commercial production.
They have called on the government to intervene by providing grants, single-digit interest loans, and subsidised farm inputs, stressing the need to ensure that such support reaches grassroots farmers.
Speaking on the economic implications, Dr. Amade Peter of the Department of Economics, Adamawa State University, Mubi, warned that Nigeria is experiencing a steady rise in the cost of farm inputs alongside declining output prices.
He explained that a continued reliance on food imports would negatively affect household incomes and the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dr. Peter urged the government and international organisations to prioritise food security by offering soft loans, agricultural inputs, and implementing policies that support farmers at the grassroots level.
