FCT farmers lament rising cost of fertiliser, farm inputs

As the 2026 farming season approaches, rural farmers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over the rising cost of fertiliser and other farm inputs. A cross-section of farmers who spoke to Abuja Metro on Thursday said the increasing prices of fertiliser, agro-chemicals and equipment such as sprayers are becoming a major challenge. […]

As the 2026 farming season approaches, rural farmers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over the rising cost of fertiliser and other farm inputs.

A cross-section of farmers who spoke to Abuja Metro on Thursday said the increasing prices of fertiliser, agro-chemicals and equipment such as sprayers are becoming a major challenge.

They noted that despite last year’s drop in food prices, many farmers made little or no profit due to the high cost of production.

Malam Abdullahi Usman, a farmer in Godoji community in Kuje Area Council, said he is worried about the rising costs as he prepares his five-hectare farmland for cultivation.

He said a bag of NPK and urea fertiliser, which sold for between N42,000 and N45,000 last year, now costs between N52,000 and N56,000.

“I went to the market in Kuje and was told a bag of NPK is N56,000, while urea is about N48,000,” he said.

Usman expressed concern that falling food prices could again affect farmers’ returns this year despite the high cost of inputs.

Similarly, a farmer in Farakuti community in Kwali Area Council, Mr Barnabas Mathew, said the continuous rise in the cost of fertiliser and agro-chemicals is threatening crop production, especially for smallholder farmers.

“Just a few days ago, I went to buy a litre of chemical and it was N8,000, compared to N4,500 last year. A sprayer I bought for N9,000 is now N12,000,” he said.

He also decried lack of access to government tractors, noting that he has spent heavily hiring tractors to cultivate his farmland.

Mr Yakubu Madaki, a farmer in Paiko community in Gwagwalada Area Council, also lamented the situation, saying he relies on the black market for fertiliser at higher prices.

“I hardly get access to government fertiliser or tractors. Each year, I spend heavily hiring equipment to cultivate my land,” he said.

Madaki blamed middlemen for inflating prices, alleging that fertiliser supplied by the government is often diverted before reaching farmers.

The Sarkin Noma of Abaji, Alhaji Mohammed Dangana, attributed the rising costs to what he described as the government’s failure to prioritise the agricultural sector.

He called for increased subsidies on farm inputs and better support for farmers to enhance food security.

“Unless the government prioritises agriculture, food security will continue to be threatened,” he said.

Dangana also expressed concern that tractors launched last year in Sheda, Kwali Area Council, have yet to be distributed to farmers.

Responding, a senior official in the Agriculture Department of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhassan Ahmed, said the council distributed fertiliser and agro-chemicals to farmers last year.

He added that plans are underway to procure new tractors to be hired to farmers at subsidised rates.

Similarly, an official in Kuje Area Council, Solomon Andrew, said the council has made provisions in its budget to procure fertiliser and tractors for the current farming season.

He added that the Minister of Special Duties, Zephaniah Jisalo, also supported farmers in Kuje with fertiliser distribution last year.