Farmers in Gombe abandon rice, maize cultivation over high fertiliser cost

Some farmers in Gombe State have abandoned the cultivation of rice and maize, citing high cost of fertiliser as reason for their decision.

Freedomonline reports that many of them have turned to cultivating millet, sorghum, beans, groundnut, soya beans, sesame and cassava, which require little or no fertiliser.

Speaking to our Correspondent in Gombe on Friday they expressed their frustration with the constant increase in cost of fertiliser since the beginning of the 2025 rainy season.

Alhaji Abdullahi Yerima, who cultivated five hectares of cassava on his farm in Akko, Akko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, said he switched from maize to cassava due to the high cost of fertiliser.

Yerima said that he decided to shift from maize to cassava, so he could get better return on his investments.

For Zakari Hinna, the head of farmers in Hinna community in Yamaltu/Deba LGA, the story is that of regret for farmers, who had earlier planted rice and maize with the first rain.

Hinna said that those who planted after and were still planting, had shifted from rice and maize cultivation because of high cost of fertiliser.

“For one hectare of maize or rice farm, you will need at least five to six bags of fertiliser for effective result and each bag is now almost N60, 000; so, you need over N300, 000 for fertiliser alone.

“With the high cost of improved seeds, how will you recover your investments; with the way things are, those farming maize and rice may run at a loss.

“I can tell you that in my community, over 40 per cent of farmers have turned to millet, sorghum and other crops, so they can spend less on farming cost and make more profit after harvest.” he said.

Also, Mr Abubakar Babayo, the head of farmers from Difa community in Yamaltu Deba LGA, said that more than 50 per cent of farmers in his community had abandoned the cultivation of rice and maize due to high cost of fertiliser.

Babayo said cultivating rice and maize was no longer sustainable, even though he said it might have such might consequences for Nigeria and food security effort of government.

On her part, Mrs Maria Joshua, a farmer from Popandi Tal, in Billiri LGA, confirmed that many of the farmers in their community had shifted to millet, while those who planted maize took loans to purchase fertilisers.

Joshua appealed with the Federal and Gombe State Governments to support farmers with fertilisers to enable them cultivate rice and maize, which they described as staple food for many Nigerians.

Freedomonline reports that a 50kg of fertiliser which was sold for between N42, 000 and N44, 000 at the commencement of the rainy season now sells for between N52, 000 and N57, 000 depending on quality and brand.