The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has raised concerns over the declining participation of farmers in the ongoing cropping season warning that the situation could negatively impact food production and agricultural output across the country.
According to the association, several challenges including rising production costs insecurity in farming communities, limited access to agricultural inputs and inadequate financing have discouraged many farmers from actively participating in this year’s planting activities.
AFAN noted that increasing prices of fertilisers, seeds, agrochemicals and transportation have placed significant financial pressure on farmers particularly smallholder producers who constitute a large percentage of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce.
The association further explained that persistent security concerns in some farming areas have continued to disrupt agricultural operations forcing many farmers to reduce cultivation activities or abandon farmlands entirely.
Stakeholders within the sector warned that declining participation during the cropping season could lead to reduced harvest volumes, increased food prices and heightened pressure on national food security in the coming months.
AFAN therefore called for urgent government intervention through improved access to subsidised inputs, affordable credit facilities, enhanced security measures and stronger support programmes aimed at encouraging farmers to return fully to agricultural production.
Agricultural experts also stressed the need for sustained investments in mechanisation, extension services, irrigation infrastructure and rural development to strengthen resilience within the farming sector.
The association maintained that timely and coordinated support for farmers remains critical to improving agricultural productivity, stabilising food supply and sustaining the nation’s economic growth through agriculture.
