Nigeria’s food system is in the grip of a troubling paradox. On the one hand, market surveys show that the prices of several food items have dropped across the country, offering relief to millions of households battling inflation. On the other hand, the cost of agricultural inputs—fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, and improved seeds—has risen sharply, putting enormous pressure on the very farmers who make food available.
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This imbalance is not only unsustainable but dangerous. While consumers may rejoice at cheaper prices today, farmers are being squeezed between falling revenues and rising production costs. For many, cultivating crops has become an unprofitable venture. Smallholder farmers, who account for more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s food production, risk being forced out of business, which could set the stage for food shortages and even higher prices in the near future.
The hike in farm inputs is being driven by multiple factors: foreign exchange instability, import dependency, rising energy costs, and inadequate local production of fertiliser and agrochemicals. Yet, despite these challenges, food prices are dropping due to seasonal harvests and weakened consumer purchasing power. This means farmers are selling at losses, with no cushioning support to sustain their livelihoods.
If urgent measures are not taken, Nigeria’s agricultural sector—already strained by insecurity, climate shocks, and poor infrastructure—could face a deeper crisis. A food system that undermines its farmers is a food system heading for collapse.
The way forward is clear. As a media organization dedicated to reporting agriculture, we suggest that…
The government must intervene decisively by:
1. Subsidising fertilisers and pesticides through transparent channels that reach genuine farmers, not middlemen.
2. Supporting local production of inputs to reduce dependence on imports and shield the sector from forex volatility.
3. Strengthening extension services and cooperatives so that smallholder farmers can pool resources, access inputs at lower costs, and improve efficiency.
4. Creating guaranteed minimum price schemes to protect farmers from selling their produce at unsustainable losses.
Agriculture is not just another sector of the economy—it is the foundation of national security and human survival. If farmers cannot make a living, they cannot continue to feed the nation. The government must act swiftly, not only to stabilise input costs but also to ensure that farming remains a dignified and profitable occupation.
Nigeria cannot afford to celebrate falling food prices today, only to face food scarcity tomorrow. Farmers must be protected now, because the nation’s future food security depends on their survival.
AgroClimateNews…Editorial
