Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko on Tuesday, added a strong human voice to the Senate’s debate on the growing hardship faced by Nigerian farmers, as lawmakers considered a motion on falling produce prices and the rising cost of farm inputs.
During the plenary, Wamakko actively supported a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje, which highlighted how millions of farmers are being squeezed by the high cost of fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, even as the prices of their harvested crops continue to drop.
Speaking from experience, who is also a farmer, acknowledged the steps already taken by the Federal Government to reduce food prices, including import waivers and special permissions. However, he cautioned that these efforts have not translated into real relief for farmers on the ground, many of whom still struggle to afford basic inputs needed to cultivate their farms.
He warned that when farmers spend heavily to produce food but are forced to sell at low prices, the result is not only personal loss but a serious threat to national food security.
In a key intervention, Senator Wamakko opposed suggestions to introduce price controls, arguing that such measures could further hurt farmers. Instead, he moved an amendment calling for a market-driven system that allows prices to reflect the true cost of production and reward farmers fairly for their labour.
The Senate adopted his amendment, effectively shifting the focus of the motion toward empowering farmers through market forces rather than regulation.
Many observers see Wamakko’s contribution as a reminder that behind every policy debate are real farmers whose survival depends on practical decisions that protect their livelihoods and sustain Nigeria’s food supply.
