Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The rainy season has returned across Nigeria’s northern region, but farmers in the North-East and North-West are once again grappling with a lack of farming implements, threatening food production in a region already vulnerable to climate change, insecurity, and poverty.
The northern part of the country accounts for over half of Nigeria’s population and holds a vast expanse of arable land suitable for the cultivation of staple crops like beans, millet, sorghum, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and various vegetables. Despite this natural advantage, the region continues to face significant setbacks in mechanised farming due to inadequate tools and poor access to modern agricultural inputs.
“Every year, we clear our bushes, harrow, ridge and plant manually,” said Hajiya Amina, a farmer in the outskirts of Kano. “We still use hoe and cutlass, or our hands, for cultivating what we call barema in Hausa. Nothing good can be produced this way. Farming implements are too limited, and the government is not ready to intervene. They only share tools among themselves and their allies.”
Northern Nigeria typically has a short rainy season from June to September, which often fluctuates due to changing weather patterns. This uncertainty makes preparation critical. Yet many households lack access to the tools necessary for early planting.
According to a 2019 survey, 84 percent of households in the North-East are engaged in crop production higher than any other region in the country. Despite this high dependence on agriculture, more than 65 percent of households in the North cannot cultivate enough to feed themselves year-round.
Mallam Usman, a farmer in Bauchi, shared his frustrations. “We noticed that the government said they distributed tractors and other implements. But as you can see, nothing along this road proves that. We’ve been waiting almost a week just to rent a tractor. Because there are not enough, we have to queue till it’s our turn.”
Researchers have noted that traditional farming, deeply rooted in cultural knowledge passed down through generations, is now under strain. While these methods can be resilient, they face growing threats such as low productivity, outdated techniques, poor infrastructure, and limited access to fertilisers and improved seeds.
“Conflict and insecurity continue to disrupt farming activities,” one research finding stated. “High input costs, pest outbreaks, and the effects of climate change such as droughts and floods are worsening crop losses and threatening food security.”
Despite yearly allocations for agricultural development, outcomes remain poor. The federal and state governments have reportedly spent over a trillion naira on farming inputs and implements since independence. Yet farmers on the ground say these efforts have had little visible impact.
“There’s a need for transparent and fair access to modern farming equipment,” said a civil society advocate in Kaduna. “If we are serious about addressing food insecurity, we must ensure that farming inputs get to the real farmers, not just government loyalists,” he added.