Senate Asks Executive To Subsidise Fertiliser, Other Farm Inputs

Citing the high cost of agricultural inputs and declining produce prices, the Senate has asked the Executive branch of government to introduce broad-based subsidies, particularly for fertilisers and other farm inputs.

It said the measure would address the growing crisis facing Nigerian farmers amid falling produce prices and persistently high production costs.

The call followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), which highlighted the widening gap between declining farm-gate prices and the soaring cost of inputs as a major threat to the livelihoods of millions of Nigerian farmers.

Leading the debate, Senator Goje urged the Executive to prioritise investment in critical agricultural infrastructure, such as storage facilities, rural roads, processing centres and irrigation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ profitability.

He commended the Executive for reducing food prices nationwide through waivers and special permits for large-scale food importation, noting that the measures had brought relief to Nigerians.

He, however, observed that while food prices had declined, the cost of farm inputs — including fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides — remained high, creating severe hardship for local farmers.

Goje expressed concern that the resulting market distortion had led to massive post-harvest losses, as many farmers were unable to sell their produce at profitable rates.

He warned that the situation had caused widespread wastage, spoilage, income erosion and severe economic and nutritional setbacks in farming communities.

In their contributions, the lawmakers noted that smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s food production system, depend on farming as their primary source of income.

They warned that continued neglect could deepen rural poverty, increase Nigeria’s dependence on imported food, weaken food sovereignty, and expose the economy to global price volatility and foreign exchange pressures.

Accordingly, the Senate resolved to urge the Executive to design and implement a Special Emergency Intervention Package for farmers affected by the collapse in produce prices to cushion losses and stabilise households.

It also called for the establishment of a Benchmark Minimum Price Framework for major agricultural commodities and a Guaranteed Off-take Programme, under which the government would purchase produce directly from farmers at benchmark prices.

The resolutions further urged the introduction of broad-based subsidies for fertilisers and other key farm inputs, increased investment in strategic agricultural infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and boost farmers’ incomes, as well as a review of current import waiver and special permit policies to ensure Nigerian farm produce can compete fairly with imported alternatives.