Post-harvest losses: Farmers urge Tinubu to subsidise farm inputs

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently subsidise farm inputs, tractors and agricultural equipment to cushion mounting losses faced by farmers across the country. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Garba, AFAN National President, Dr. Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said decisive government intervention was […]

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently subsidise farm inputs, tractors and agricultural equipment to cushion mounting losses faced by farmers across the country.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Garba, AFAN National President, Dr. Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said decisive government intervention was critical to stabilising the sector, especially in the wake of massive post-harvest losses and declining commodity prices.

He said farmers recorded losses of up to 85 per cent out of more than 50 million tonnes of post-harvest produce during the last farming season, worsened by climate change and volatile market forces.

Mudi warned that high input costs, multiple haulage tariffs imposed by state and local governments, currency instability and what he described as unfair pricing structures have discouraged investment in agriculture.

He added that import waivers and the influx of cheaper foreign produce further depress local prices, stall fresh investments and weaken rural development — despite the Federal Government’s huge budgetary allocations to agriculture, livestock and poultry.

The AFAN president maintained that subsidising inputs and mechanisation would help bridge value-chain gaps, reduce losses and restore investor confidence.

He said the association remains open to dialogue with critical stakeholders to ease pressure on the Federal Government while ensuring farmers receive timely information on policy changes nationwide.

While pressing for reforms, Mudi also charged Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to remain focused on legislative responsibilities and resist distractions from critics.

He noted that Kalu’s recent recognition as “Legislative Farmers’ Father” reflects his commitment to strengthening agriculture through lawmaking and oversight.

Mudi urged members of the National Assembly to prioritise agriculture and agribusiness in legislative frameworks, stressing that strong collaboration between lawmakers and farmers could reposition agriculture as Nigeria’s leading revenue earner after oil and gas.