Rising costs and insecurity threaten Nigeria’s farmers, risking massive post-harvest losses and a severe 2026 food crisis.
Nigeria faces a potential food crisis in 2026 as farmers, particularly in the North-Central and North-West regions, warn that rising production costs, insecurity, and massive post-harvest losses may force many to abandon agriculture.
From Niger to Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna states, small and medium-scale farmers told Nairametrics that despite government efforts to reduce food prices, soaring costs of fertiliser, fuel, and labour have made farming unprofitable.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, a rice farmer from Niger State, said: “The cost of fertiliser, pesticides, and fuel has tripled in the last two years. We can barely break even, and most of us are already running into debt. If this continues into next year, many farmers will simply walk away from the farms. That’s when the real food crisis will hit.”
Similarly, Simeon Dabeng noted: “The cost of production in this country is very high. Farmers lack the right support, not to mention insecurity. Yet we are being asked to lower prices without subsidy or negotiation.”
Patience Ayuba, a maize farmer in Nasarawa State, expressed frustration: “Farmers are tired of empty promises. We cannot keep producing at a loss while everything—from seeds to diesel—keeps getting more expensive. Many of our youths are no longer interested in farming because there’s no profit and no protection.”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that about 34.7 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity in the next lean season (June–August 2026) if timely interventions are not implemented. Dr. Grace Alonge, an agricultural economist at the University of Abuja, added: “Unless the government introduces targeted interventions—subsidised inputs, credit access, and rural security—Nigeria may face one of its worst food crises in recent history.”
Farmers are urging immediate government action to sustain production and prevent severe shortages next year.