High fertiliser costs push Nigerian farmers to the brink

Farmers across Nigeria are crying out for help. The cost of fertiliser and other farm inputs has risen so sharply that many can no longer afford to plant crops. This is making it difficult for them to produce enough food and is affecting prices for everyone in the country.

According to reports, fertilisers like DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) and NPK 15-15-15, once common and affordable, have become far more expensive.

A 50kg bag of DAP that cost about N50,000 earlier this year now sells for between N110,000 and N120,000. NPK has also jumped from around N23,000 to roughly N55,000 per bag — increases that are simply too much for most small-scale farmers to bear.

Since fertilisers play a key role in helping crops grow and improving yields, many small farmers are left with two difficult options: reduce the size of their farms or stop farming altogether.

In June 2025, Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 21.97%, continuing a three-month upward trend. While overall inflation dipped slightly to 22.97%, food prices remain high — and one of the major drivers is the soaring cost of fertilisers and other farm inputs.

Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, has called for urgent government intervention to reduce input costs and ease inflation’s burden on Nigerians. He warned that without support, many farmers will be unable to continue, and food prices will continue to rise.

Some states are beginning to respond. The Kaduna State Government, for instance, has started distributing over 300 truckloads of fertiliser to 100,000 farmers and introduced a crop insurance scheme to help them recover from weather-related losses and other setbacks.

Many farmers are urging other states to follow Kaduna’s lead. Without broader support, Nigeria risks facing deeper food shortages, emptier markets, and further increases in food prices in the months ahead.