FEATURE: Kwara farmers face multiple battles, as drought, economy, exploitation by labourers induce losses
With the recent economic downturn and upward push in prices of agricultural inputs and labour services all over Nigeria, ALIYU ADAM reports on how farmers in Kwara State are holding up in the face of reduced rainfall that drives them into loss, coupled with other factors — a spot of hunger and soaring inflation in the price of food items.
Accruing approximately N9 million after he harvested 200 bags of soya beans, 100 bags of maize, 80 bags of sorghum, 50 bags of wheat, one trailer of cassava and four trailers of tuber yam from a hundred hectares of land during the previous year, Isiaka Hakeem was gripped with anticipation as the rainy season drew nearer, planning ahead of this season.
Hiring labourers and tractors, the 37-years-old concluded the planting of yam, cassava, and maize among other things on 1,000 hectares of land within two weeks, and subsequently sprayed the farmland — expecting his profits to more than double that of the previous year, as he aimed for the downpours to commence.
However, months passed without rainfall, leaving the plantation to rot in heaps. Nevertheless, he cultivated another plantation, spending multiple thousands of naira. Yet, he suffered the same fate when the second plantings went unpromising. “Loss comes in business sometimes, all days cannot be sweet”, he said.
“I keep experiencing the same fate until the fourth plantation successfully sprouted but the early harvest of the year has already been delayed”, he lamented.
“By this time of last season, the planting had delivered a better result and we (the farmers) are already filled with joy. We were no longer suffering for food. At least when we need money, we can take some products to the market for sale.”
A study by Oxfam Nigeria and the West Africa Network for Peace-building Nigeria (WANEP) showed that Nigeria’s economic productivity could decrease by up to 11 percent in 2020, and up to 30 percent by 2050, owing to climate change
Small scale farmers are contributing to 90 percent of Nigeria’s food. However, their crops are vulnerable to extreme weather linked to climate change.
Furthermore, Growers in Nigeria are suffering huge losses due to a disruption of the farming season caused by unusual and extreme weather conditions.
Crop failures have become a major problem whenever any part of Nigeria experiences declined rainfall. A high degree of crop failure especially millet, sorghum and rice were recorded in all local governments of Yobe state some years ago. The total tonnage of grains lost in the area was estimated to be about 330,000 metric tons valued at about N15 billion, owing to drought. This was disclosed in a paper published by International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology.
Crossroads of Dilemma
Ismail Ibrahim, another farmer from Pakotoru, Muse community in Baruten local government area of Kwara State trekked to his farmland, holding a cutlass in his hand with a hoe hanging on his shoulder. His concern for the unexpected famine that is affecting the sprouting of crops, showed all over his face.
As soon as the planting season commenced in June, the three labourers hired by Mr Ismail were not enough. After he failed to get more upon further search, the young farmer travelled to Ogbomoso to rent a tractor.
Upon his arrival, he went to the market to purchase parasite weed control. But little did he know that he would end up coming back home without getting much of his demand – as the price of farming materials had soared higher.
“I went to the market with the intention of buying 415 litres of parasite weed control. But when I reached the market, one litre of parasite which was sold at the rate of N1400 before is now N6500. This compelled me to buy just 135 litres at the rate of N877,500.”
“l will also have to buy fertilizer”, he added with his voice fading down as though someone begging for help.
Despite Mr Ismail’s trials and tribulations, his hope faded into thin air when the vegetation failed to sprout due to declined rainfall. Hence, he was left in a dilemma as he felt dejected because that was the first time he would experience such a crisis since he had become a farmer. Nevertheless, he received a loan of N500,000 to set another plantation before the season ran out. He noted that the loan would be paid double upon maturity.
Therefore, the farmer decried the surge in prices of farming implements and inputs, urging the federal government to reconsider the removal of fuel subsidies that increased the price of fuel. He emphasised that the decision influenced and led to the hike of agricultural commodities such as herbicide, crop seedlings, fertilisers and food items among others.
“Even the expenses of labourers’ service and tractor rentage has also increased since the removal of fuel in 2023. If things continue like this, we don’t know how much the costs of food items will increase in the upcoming harvest.”
According to data by TradeEconomics, Nigeria’s inflation rate hit 34.19 percent in June, 2024, the highest rate recorded since 1996. This was due to the removal of fuel subsidy, and a weakened local currency implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he assumed office in May 2023.
Boosted by price increases in bread, cereals, potatoes, and fish, food inflation accounts for the bulk of Nigeria’s inflation basket, surging to a record high of 40.87 percent compared to 40.66 reading in May.
A study by Noiler revealed that the removal of the fuel subsidy has increased the transportation costs, due to the hike in fuel prices. This has negatively impacted agricultural productivity, challenging farmers to manage crucial equipment such as tractors and pumps, and squeezing farmers’ profit margins while potentially driving up food prices for consumers.
Scarcity and Exorbitant Cost of Labourers
Ibrahim Jimoh, the leader of Agbelere Farmers’ Association, Muse, Baruten LGA, left home for the market square to meet a client (client is a middleman between farmers and labourers). He paid the sum of N 1.2 million to one of the famous clients as the farming season approached, hoping to get twelve labourers in Olokotintin community and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
In a surprising turn of event, the middleman only returned with the money after a month despite traveling throughout the countryside. The middleman noted that the abolition of the usual policy in the previous year where the labourers were paid with Bajaj motorcycles brought the headache. Instead, the labourers agreed to come with him unless the policy is restored and a token will be paid to their parents.
Ibrahim did not give up as he continued to search for people to work in his farmland. After a couple of days, he managed to get eight men who agreed to work with him, and he subsequently accommodated them.
He took them to his farmland the following day where the men started working after which he proceeded to the market to purchase agrochemicals to improve his plantation. Upon his arrival, the eight men disappeared after they realised that the farmland was too much for them.
The problems faced by farmers become more complicated, due to the inconsiderable demands from clients and labourers.
Apart from the labour expenses, the client always received a charge known as migration fees to import the labourers to the country side.
During the last season, Jimoh Busari, 64, based in Okuta, Baruten local government area sold everything he harvested to meet the labourers demands.
“After the client collected a sum of N600,000 as the migration fee of the six labourers he brought. We reached an agreement to reward each one of them a Bajaj motorcycle, and a farm produce worth N800,000 altogether when they finished with their annual job.
“The client took the labourers to the farm and returned after some weeks. When they came back, they requested an additional N400,000 as the charges for the client’s labour”, he narrated.
Jimoh added that the client threatened to withdraw the labourers if he failed to accept the deal. Realizing the consequence of his refusal, he accepted the deal against his wish.
“Last year, the agent charged N100,000 per person. But the charges have increased to N250,000 per person this season. This has exposed us (farmers) to more disadvantages.”
Cries for Government’s Intervention
Mr Busari is not alone, the plight encountered by Abdulraheem Muhammad Jamiu, 45, was even worrisome. Despite paying N600,000 for the eleven labourers hired for him, his client turned his farmland to a feeding barn as he fed himself and his family from the farm produce accrued from his farm which was worth N9,000 per day.
Consequently, he pleaded for intervention by the government, in order to set a policy to regulate the client-labourer process and prevent further exploitation of the farmers.
“the non-managerial policy in labourers’ demands needs to be curbed. Because the client and the labourer knew that we (farmers) cannot deal with the scale of our farm alone. Even the agreement is not favorable to us. We continue to endure it because of our future purpose.
“I think this exploitation will stop if the government can interfere to regulate the process.”
Likewise, Ibrahim Jimoh said: “We need the support of our government to give us more tractors. This will reduce manpower, save our funds and the stress of searching for labourers will reduce to the minimum.”
“All these are the main reasons people buy foods at a high rate”, he added.
Expert weighs in
In an interview, Danyaro Muhammed Magaji, Professor of Agriculture at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, identified food insecurity as one of the major consequences of declining rainfall because the production would be so minimal to the demand.
Relying on imported food is another problem accompanied by farmine—putting the importing country at the risk of exploitation due to strict conditions usually imposed by the producing countries.
“Under food policy, the needy country has to abide by the policy adopted by the producing country in order to get food. Otherwise, the producing country may decide not to sell food for the country in need. For this reason, it is better for a country to feed itself and remain independent in terms of food production.”
Professor Magaji highlighted some measures that can help farmers during the period of drought.
He advised farmers to plant drought tolerant crops that can manage to subsist even whenever there is scarcity of rainfall.
Similarly, planting short duration crops which grow within a period of a few months is another preventative measure farmers can adopt to escape the threat of drought.
“Those crops that suffer drought are the crops planted during the rainy season. So farmers will lose part of the crops and still make profit if the drought is not severe. In any case, farmers can not control drought. It is intermittent and comes temporarily in a season.”
Conclusively, he pleaded with the government to support the farmers especially in battling drought. “Every Government should protect their farmers to provide food security in the country. Because when the farmers are down as a result of drought, it comes with a lot of consequences that affect the whole population in a country.”
