Rising prices of synthetic fertilisers have prompted farmers in Dutse, Jigawa State, to increasingly rely on animal manure as a cheaper alternative for replenishing soil nutrients and sustaining crop production.
The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews in Dutse, said the rising cost of commercial fertilisers had become increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers to afford, forcing many to explore locally available alternatives.
They said manure from cattle, goats and other livestock was readily available in their communities and had become an important input for preparing and maintaining farmland.
A farmer in Gandu village, Dan’asabe Rabiu, said farmers collected animal waste from households and livestock areas and applied it to their fields during land preparation and cultivation.
He described cow dung as a valuable source of soil nutrients because it was easily accessible and required little financial investment.
According to Rabiu, using animal manure had helped farmers reduce their expenditure on fertilisers at a time when agricultural input costs remain high.
Another farmer, Nasiru Bala, said manure was particularly popular among farmers who owned livestock or could obtain animal waste from households within their communities.
He explained that farmers generally gathered the manure and allowed it to decompose before applying it to their farms.
According to him, the practice had helped reduce dependence on inorganic fertilisers while supporting crop performance.
Iliya Sama’ila, another farmer, said limited income had made it difficult for many farmers to purchase adequate quantities of fertiliser, especially during the planting season when they also have to pay for seeds, labour and other inputs.
He described manure as an affordable and accessible means of improving soil fertility.
Sule Abubakar said the practice also offered an environmentally beneficial way of converting animal waste, which is often discarded around residential areas, into a productive agricultural resource.
He said farmers had observed improvements in crop conditions after applying manure to their fields.
Abubakar called on agricultural extension officers to provide farmers with practical guidance on the proper collection, storage, composting and application of animal manure to maximise its benefits.
Meanwhile, a fertiliser dealer at Dutse market, Musa Ayuba, said the high cost of commercial fertilisers had placed the products beyond the reach of many farmers.
A market survey showed that a 50-kilogramme bag of NPK fertiliser sold for between ₦33,000 and ₦55,000, depending on quality, while a 50-kilogramme bag of urea sold for about ₦45,000.
The growing use of animal manure highlights the increasing need for affordable and sustainable soil fertility management options, particularly for smallholder farmers facing rising production costs.
