Kano, June 16, 2026 – Farmers in Kano State have raised concerns over the escalating cost of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, warning that the trend could negatively affect food production during the 2026 farming season unless urgent support is provided.
The call was made by the Kano State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), which appealed to government authorities to introduce subsidies and other intervention measures to ease the burden on farmers.
Speaking on preparations for the upcoming cropping season, the association’s chairman, Abdullahi Ali-Maibread, expressed concern that farmers in the state had yet to receive meaningful support from any tier of government.
He stressed the need for immediate intervention through the provision of improved seeds and fertilisers at affordable rates, as well as enhanced security arrangements to protect farmers and their farmlands.
According to him, the association is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to facilitate timely access to quality seeds and agrochemicals capable of improving crop productivity.
Ali-Maibread added that AFAN was also encouraging the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, including proper land preparation, ridging and drainage systems, to reduce the impact of flooding and soil erosion during the rainy season.
He further disclosed that the association had intensified awareness campaigns on pest management while maintaining engagement with security agencies to ensure a safe environment for farming activities.
Several farmers from Gezawa, Warawa and Gabasawa Local Government Areas echoed similar concerns, describing the rising prices of fertilisers and farm inputs as a major threat to agricultural output.
A maize and millet farmer, Malam Muntari Al-Hassan, said the cost of a bag of NPK fertiliser had increased from about ₦35,000 in the previous season to more than ₦51,000 this year.
He noted that the sharp increase would force him to scale down cultivation from 12 hectares to seven hectares in order to minimise financial risks.
A vegetable farmer, Hajiya Nusaiba Bako, observed that many women engaged in farming might be unable to cultivate crops this season because of the high cost of essential inputs, particularly fertilisers.
Similarly, a farmer from Gabasawa, Aliyu Lawal, said he had abandoned plans to grow maize this year due to the soaring cost of fertilisers.
Lawal explained that he would instead cultivate millet and rely largely on organic manure as a more affordable alternative.
The farmers also urged the Kano State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to take decisive action against the sale of counterfeit fertilisers and establish transparent channels for distributing subsidised farm inputs directly to genuine farmers.
They maintained that prompt intervention would help sustain agricultural production, improve food security and reduce the financial pressures confronting farmers across the state.