Grain farmers in Kaduna State have appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention after reporting losses totaling ₦10.16 billion from the 2025 maize farming season.
Representatives of over 2,000 affected farmers said soaring input costs and falling maize prices were the primary drivers of the losses. Fertilizers such as NPK and urea, which previously cost around ₦20,000–₦25,000 per 50 kg bag, are now priced at ₦60,000 and ₦50,000, respectively. Farmers revealed that cultivating one hectare now costs more than ₦2 million, double previous expenses, yet current market prices for maize, approximately ₦22,000 per 100 kg bag, remain well below the break-even point of ₦44,578 per bag.
In a letter addressed to key federal officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Central Bank Governor as well as Kaduna’s three senators, the farmers requested subsidised or free farm inputs for the 2026 season. They also proposed to reimburse the government with a portion of maize harvested at the end of the season.
Farmers warned that without government support, many may abandon maize cultivation, posing a risk to national food security and potentially affecting grain supply in northern Nigeria. They emphasized that sustaining production is critical to the government’s food security agenda and to stabilizing staple food prices. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.