The Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Bauchi State has warned that the high cost of fertilisers and farm inputs will prevent many of its members from participating in the 2026 cropping season.
The group’s spokesperson, Mrs Marka Abbas, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi.
A market survey in Bauchi metropolis showed that a bag of Urea fertiliser is currently selling for between ₦50,000 and ₦53,000, while NPK ranges from ₦25,000 to ₦60,000, depending on quality.
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Abbas said the sharp price increase has placed a heavy burden on small-scale farmers, especially women.
“We spend heavily on inputs and labour, but farm produce prices are very low at harvest. This makes it difficult for us to continue farming,” she said.
She called on the government at all levels to urgently intervene by providing subsidised fertilisers and inputs to smallholder farmers to boost productivity.
Abbas warned that without intervention, many small-scale farmers may be forced to skip the 2026 planting season.
Another farmer, Ishaku Ibrahim, said he had started preparations for the rainy season but high input costs remain a major challenge.
Ibrahim urged the government to take proactive measures to make fertilisers and other inputs more affordable and accessible to improve farmers’ productivity.
