Bauchi: Some women farmers in Bauchi State have expressed concern over the hike in farmland rental rates and input prices as the 2025 cropping season sets in. They also highlighted the lack of access to extension and agricultural financing services, which is affecting their productivity and capacity to produce more.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the rental rates for farmland have significantly increased, ranging between N60,000 and N100,000 per hectare, compared to the previous season’s rates of N20,000 and N40,000. The prices of fertilisers have also surged, with the NPK brand now sold between N25,000 and N45,000, up from N18,500 and N40,000, depending on quality. Urea fertilisers are now priced between N35,000 and N38,500, compared to its previous price of N33,000.
Mrs. Rahma Mutashi, a maize grower, expressed her concern, stating that the rising rental rates are discouraging smallholder farmers and affecting their productivity. She mentioned that many farmers are now reducing the size of the land they cultivate due to the exorbitant rates. Mutashi herself has reduced her cultivated land size to manage farm expenditure, from two hectares in 2024 to a smaller area this year.
Felicia Moses, another farmer, attributed the hike in rental rates to the increased demand for fertile land, as more people engage in agriculture. She criticized landowners for unilaterally increasing rates, which she believes will negatively impact crop production. Moses expressed concern about achieving growth in food production due to the high costs of inputs, labor, and rental rates.
Hajiya Maryam Yalwa called for early distribution of fertilisers and inputs through government agricultural intervention programs. She noted that last year, the government subsidized fertilisers, selling them to farmers at N15,000 per bag, compared to N21,000 in the open market.
In response, landowner Ibrahim Garba stated that rental rates are likely to increase further due to the rising demand for land by individuals and companies. He explained that the growing farmer population over the past three years has intensified competition for agricultural lands, thus driving up rental rates. Garba also mentioned that many families are now collectively cultivating inherited lands to enhance food security, which has reduced the availability of land for rent as more landowners choose to farm on their plots.