Taraba farmers may stop irrigation farming over fuel price surge

Farmers in Taraba State are warning that soaring fuel prices could force many of them to abandon irrigation farming in the upcoming season, raising concerns over food production in the region. The high cost of fuel, coupled with expensive fertilizers, tractor hire and labor, has pushed production expenses beyond the means of many farmers, leaving them uncertain about participating in the next irrigation cycle.

Rising fuel costs are particularly problematic for irrigation farming, as farmers rely on petrol- and diesel-powered water pumps to irrigate their fields during the dry season. In remote farming communities, farmers must travel long distances to obtain fuel or buy from black-market vendors, who charge much higher prices for petrol and diesel.

Large-scale farmers have reported that fuel prices are currently between N1,800 and N1,900 per litre for petrol and about N2,200 per litre for diesel, significantly increasing the cost of powering irrigation pumps. This, combined with high input costs and uncertain market prices, has made irrigation farming a capital-intensive venture, with many farmers struggling to recover their investments.

In Binnare area of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, a large-scale farmer reported spending over N3 million on paddy rice production during the last irrigation season but earning less than his total investment from the sale of his harvest. He expressed uncertainty about returning to farming this year, citing the prospect of another hike in production costs.

The farmers also highlighted the unfavorable relationship between production costs and the prices they receive for their crops. For instance, Alhaji Haliru Binnare mentioned that the price of a bag of NPK fertilizer has risen to N50,000, while an hour of tractor service now costs N140,000. Meanwhile, the market price for a 100-kilogramme bag of paddy rice fluctuates between N40,000 and N43,000, sometimes dropping further during the harvest period.

With production costs soaring and market prices remaining low, many farmers are questioning whether they can recover their investments and make a profit. Beyond the immediate impact of fuel prices, the farmers' concerns reflect broader challenges facing agricultural production in Taraba State, where high input costs and uncertain market returns threaten the viability of farming investments.

They accuse the government of failing to provide adequate support, particularly through input price regulation and subsidies, making it increasingly difficult for small-scale producers to remain in business. Some farmers have shifted from food crops to cash crops due to differences in profitability, with soybeans, melon seeds, and sesame identified as more financially promising alternatives.

The farmers warn that rising fuel costs could accelerate the shift away from irrigation farming, especially given the financial losses many experienced the previous season. With increased fuel prices, many farmers may opt out of irrigation farming this year, given their past inability to recover their investments. Unless the challenges are addressed, the farmers fear reduced participation in irrigation farming could affect rice and other crop production, exacerbating food shortages and straining the livelihoods of farming households across Taraba State.