From Umar Dankano, Yola
Farmers in Adamawa State have expressed concerns over the rising cost of agricultural inputs and poor harvests recorded during the last farming season, with some considering scaling back cultivation activities despite government assurances of support.
Several farmers who spoke in separate interviews said the high prices of fertilizer, seedlings, herbicides, and labour have made farming increasingly difficult, forcing many to reconsider their participation in the 2026 cropping season.
A small-scale farmer in Yola South Local Government Area, Mohammed Ismail, said he is yet to recover from the losses he incurred last year after cultivating a one-hectare farm. According to him, the high cost of inputs and low returns discouraged him from returning to the farm this season.
He explained that a bag of fertilizer now sells for about N60,000, while some herbicides cost up to N25,000, in addition to the rising cost of labour. Ismail appealed to the government to subsidize farming inputs to enable farmers resume cultivation and contribute to food production.
Another farmer and civil servant, Pwado Nathaniel, attributed the poor harvests recorded by many farmers last year to the combined effects of expensive farm inputs and climate-related challenges. Despite the setbacks, he said he remains committed to farming this season.
Nathaniel disclosed that he invested about N3 million in rice cultivation and expected to harvest 150 bags but ended up with only 69 bags. He noted that while farmers purchase fertilizer at between N60,000 and N65,000 per bag, harvested rice is often sold for as low as N40,000 per bag, making farming less profitable.
He called for urgent government intervention to support farmers and sustain food production across the country.
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Responding to the concerns, Adamawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Salihu Idris, assured farmers that the state government has put measures in place to boost agricultural productivity during the 2026 farming season.
The commissioner revealed that the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri recently distributed 42 new tractors to the state’s 21 local government areas to enhance mechanized farming. He added that over 70,000 bags of fertilizer, improved seedlings, and herbicides have been procured as part of the first phase of government support to farmers.
Idris also stated that the government is working to address farmer-herder conflicts by providing designated grazing areas and promoting dialogue between both groups to ensure peaceful coexistence.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and strengthening food security across the state through timely interventions and agricultural development programmes.