As the rainy season begins to set in some parts of the country farmers have expressed disappointment over high cost of farm implements, seeds and agro chemicals.
Some of them who spoke to our reporters in Kaduna,Kano and Katsina state expressed concern that many of them will not be able to farm this year if the trend continues.
One of the respondents, Mal Musa Mohammad of Kakeyi Zaria local government area who said he can’t afford to farm this year’s irrigation farming season , attributed this high cost of fuel/ diesel and other farm inputs.
He particularly said the high cost of fuel has caused a lot of harm to irrigation farmers this year, stressing that many of them have abandoned their farms.
On government support to irrigation farmers this year, Mal Musa kakeyi said both the federal, State,and local governments have not given them any form of assistance or provision of farm implements.
He said this is happening just as prices of farm commodities have continued to be low and unattractive to farmers.
Another farmer, Garba Abdu Danja Katsina state said the government at all levels need to do the needful in terms of supporting farmers especially during this rainy season or else there will be a reduction in the number of farmers this year.
Mal Garba Danja also expressed concern that as of now governments at all levels are preoccupied with politics rather than making adequate preparation for their farmers.
Similarly Mal Kabiru Falgore Kano State,said the rate at which cost of farming implements are going up and lack of government support is a source of serious concern, stressing that this may affect adequate production of cash and food crops this year.
Investigation revealed that the situation is causing serious concern among farming communities across the northern part of the country.
They therefore called for timely provision of fertilizer,seeds,and other implements at a subsidized rate as morale booster to ginger farmers to produce more for the food security of the country.