For farmers, especially those in rural areas of Niger State, this harvest season brings little joy. The season instead marks the beginning of a fresh struggle shaped by falling food prices and rising production costs, while government measures appear to favour consumers at the expense of local producers.
Many rural farmers say they feel forgotten in national economic planning. They argue that policies are often designed without considering the realities of farming communities, including poor infrastructure, lack of access to credit, limited storage facilities and weak market access.
Experts, however, warn that if the situation persists, many farmers may reduce production or abandon farming altogether, a development that could deepen food security challenges in the future.
Debt, broken aspirations
Several farmers told our correspondent that they are currently struggling to repay loans taken during the planting season as creditors have begun taking stringent measures, including arrests.
They noted that while the prices of farm produce continue to crash, the prices of the goods they need to purchase remain high.
Farmers told Weekend Trust that their primary hopes after harvest were to perform the hajj pilgrimage, build or renovate homes and buy motorcycles to ease movement to their farms. However, the continuous fall in prices has placed these aspirations beyond reach.
While lower food prices have put smiles on the faces of consumers, the situation is devastating for the producers.
High fuel prices have also increased transportation costs, eating deeply into their remaining profits.
Hajj, marriage plans stalled
In one village in Niger State, 17 farmers reportedly paid for hajj seats in 2025 through the sale of produce. However, not a single farmer from that same village has been able to pay this year despite a bumper harvest, according to Mallam Hussaini Abdullahi, a farmer in Gbako Local Government Area.
A staff member of the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board confirmed to Weekend Trust that significantly, fewer farmers have come forward to deposit money for the 2026 pilgrimage compared to 2025.
Mohammed Sani Idris Kodo, a farmer in Bosso Local Government, said the falling prices were already fueling rural-urban migration.
“Next farming season, many farmers will not be able to go to the field because farming is a business, and right now, farmers are running at a loss. A bag of paddy rice is between N30,000 and N40,000. How can you pay back loans?” He asked.
Female farmers in the region expressed similar frustrations.
Zara’u Usman from Bosso Local Government Area noted, “A mudu of millet is N350 but a bottle of palm oil is N2,000. How do we buy cloths and other necessities?”
Jamila Ibrahim added that she had hoped to buy a new mattress and renovate her room but expressed frustration. She said, “I wanted to buy a new bed and was told it cost N250,000. How is that possible when a bag of maize is now N20,000?”
In Beji, Abbas Audu shared that five of his siblings postponed their weddings. “We wanted to build rooms for the brides but the prices of zinc, nails and cement are too high. Those who built rooms have resorted to thatch for roofing because zinc is beyond our reach.”
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