Some farmers in Plateau State have appealed to governments at all levels to subsidise fertiliser and make it readily available to boost food production and reduce hunger.
The farmers, who spoke with reporters on Tuesday in Pankshin Local Government Area, said affordable fertiliser would significantly increase crop yields and help curb hunger.
They noted that although governments at the federal, state, and local levels were encouraging food production, the high cost of fertiliser in the market remained beyond the reach of most peasant farmers.
Mr Wangshak Wutok, a father of four, said many farmers were discouraged from engaging in farming despite government efforts, due to the exorbitant price of fertiliser.
“How can a pensioner like me afford N50,000 for fertiliser when there are so many other family needs?” he asked.
“Government can assist us by making fertiliser cheap and available so we can produce our food and live better lives,” Wutok added.
Mrs Everester Damulup, a widow and mother of four, said her monthly earnings from her cleaning job were not enough to buy even one bag of fertiliser.
“If we don’t get help from the government, farming will not be possible for us, and the consequences will be dire,” she said.
She appealed to the government to come to the aid of farmers, especially widows who shoulder the responsibilities of both parents.
Mr Golbak Samson, a father of three, described farming as their only source of livelihood, but said the high price of fertiliser posed a serious threat to it.
“We often hear that government sends fertiliser to farmers across the country, which is commendable. However, in most cases, it does not reach the target farmers,” he said.
“We sell our grains to buy fertiliser, but grain prices have crashed in the market. How many bags do we need to sell just to buy one bag of fertiliser?” Samson asked.
Mr Moses Dasung said farming remained the major source of income for many people who may not have white-collar jobs.
“If the government wants to help us, it should subsidise fertiliser to make it cheap and available. That way, both the government and citizens will benefit,” he said.
Mr Jan Sati, a father of three, noted that farmers often invest significant time and effort expecting a bumper harvest but end up with low yields due to poor soil fertility.
“You can’t go into farming without fertiliser. Most of our farmlands are weak because of constant cultivation and need more nutrients for better yields,” Sati stated.
He appealed to the government to subsidise fertiliser, describing N50,000 per bag as unaffordable.
