By Ezekiel Marshal
Hundreds of aggrieved farmers converged at the landmark Dawanau Market in Kano State on Thursday morning, staging a protest against the unrelenting spike in fertilizer prices and exorbitant transportation costs.
The demonstrators, representing various agricultural clusters across Northern Nigeria, expressed deep concern over the escalating cost of essential inputs, which they claim has nearly doubled in recent months.
As the rainy season approaches, many warned that their inability to afford these critical supplies poses a direct threat to national food security and could lead to widespread shortages if left unaddressed.
The atmosphere at the market remained tense as farmers detailed the mounting pressure of preparing their lands under current economic conditions.
Beyond the immediate cost of chemicals and nutrients, the protesters highlighted the deteriorating state of rural roads and the persistent threat of banditry, which continues to jeopardize their safety during the planting season.
They called on both state and federal authorities to move beyond rhetoric and implement aggressive policies, including direct subsidies and enhanced security measures, to protect the backbone of the region’s economy.
In response to the demonstration, market union leaders held an emergency meeting with officials from the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture.
The government delegation promised to investigate the sudden price hikes and pledged to escalate the farmers’ grievances to the federal level to discuss potential subsidy interventions.
However, agricultural analysts remain wary, noting that without immediate and transparent action, the rising cost of production will continue to fuel food inflation and worsen the plight of millions who depend on Northern Nigeria’s vast agricultural value chain.
