Irrigation: Niger rice farmers record bumper harvest
Farmers in Niger State, particularly in Katcha, Lapai, Wushishi, and Gbako Local Government Areas (LGAs), have recorded a bumper harvest in this year’s dry-season rice farming. However, despite the high yields, poor transport infrastructure, fluctuating prices, and high production costs continue to challenge their profitability and sustainability.
Harvesting is still ongoing, and Katcha Market remains a major trade hub, attracting farmers and buyers from Niger State and neighboring Kogi and Kwara States. Traders report that at least five trucks, each carrying between 300 and 500 bags of rice, leave the market on trading days.
Yet, poor road networks and reliance on risky water transport have made moving rice from farms to markets difficult and dangerous. Farmers in riverine communities depend on boats, but frequent mishaps, a lack of life jackets, and overloaded canoes pose serious safety risks.
Market Fluctuations Threaten Farmers’ Profitability
Despite the record harvest, falling prices of paddy rice are putting financial strain on farmers. Last year, a 100kg bag of paddy sold for ₦60,000 at the start of the harvest season; this year, it has dropped to between ₦42,000 and ₦50,000 in Katcha Market. Milled rice in Katcha is selling for ₦120,000 per bag, compared to ₦132,000 in Minna, the state capital.
Farmers say they have received no intervention from the government to help stabilize prices or provide support for input costs, despite their contributions to Nigeria’s food security.
High Cost of Production & Energy Constraints
Many farmers turned to solar-powered water pumps for irrigation due to the high cost of fuel, which has made generator-powered pumps unsustainable. The installation of solar systems is expensive, with large solar panels costing ₦450,000 and medium-sized ones ₦400,000. Farmers who rely on fuel-powered pumps spend about ₦35,000 every two days to irrigate their farms, further increasing production costs.
Farmers also struggle with fertilizer affordability, with some forced to rely on alternative fertilizers and pesticides like Meagro, which have proven effective against rice beetles but remain expensive.
A Lapai LGA farmer, Musa Kadiri, urged the government to provide subsidized fertilizers, improved rice varieties, chemicals, and solar irrigation systems to ease financial burdens and maximize yield potential.
Katcha Market: A Key Trade Hub With Untapped Potential
Farmers and traders describe Katcha Market as one of the biggest rice markets in Niger State, attracting buyers from as far as Sokoto, Abuja, and Kwara State. However, poor infrastructure and transport limitations hinder its full potential. Women traders, like Fatima Mohammed, emphasized how the rice trade provides economic opportunities, but inadequate transport increases risks and limits growth.
Despite these constraints, farmers in Edozhigi, Gbako LGA, reported that subsidized fertilizers from the federal government significantly boosted their irrigation farming, though they received no assistance from the Niger State government.
Source- Daily Trust
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The record rice harvest in Niger State highlights the growing potential of Nigeria’s rice industry, but infrastructural, financial, and policy challenges must be addressed to sustain long-term growth and ensure farmers benefit from their efforts.
Key Takeaways for Stakeholders
- Transport & Infrastructure Development is Crucial
– The government and private sector must invest in rural road rehabilitation to ease the movement of farm produce.
– Expanding alternative transportation options, such as safe, government-supported water transport, can reduce post-harvest losses and enhance market efficiency.
– Providing life jackets and enforcing boat safety regulations will minimize risks for farmers and traders. - Market Stabilization Mechanisms Needed to Protect Farmers from Price Volatility
– Establishing buffer stock programs or government-backed price stabilization funds can help reduce sharp price drops during peak harvest seasons.
– Encouraging processing and storage facilities closer to farm locations will allow farmers to store their rice and sell at better prices later.
– Strengthening cooperative marketing strategies can give farmers stronger bargaining power and reduce reliance on middlemen. - Sustainable Energy Solutions for Irrigation
– Solar irrigation is proving effective but remains too expensive for many farmers. Government-backed subsidies or soft loans for solar systems will improve adoption.
– Expanding access to affordable, energy-efficient water-pumping solutions can improve productivity and lower input costs. - Access to Inputs & Improved Rice Varieties
– Government and private-sector partnerships should ensure timely access to fertilizers, high-yield rice seeds, and effective pesticides to enhance productivity.
– More localized research is needed on pest-resistant and climate-resilient rice varieties to reduce losses and improve output quality. - Strengthening Market Linkages & Agribusiness Opportunities
– With buyers coming from multiple states, the Katcha Market could be transformed into a regional rice trading hub with better transport and logistics support.
– Encouraging private investment in rice processing industries near production zones can increase value addition and reduce dependency on raw paddy exports.
Bridging the Gap Between Productivity & Profitability
While Niger State farmers have achieved a significant bumper harvest, their ability to profit from these gains remains at risk due to transportation challenges, price fluctuations, and high input costs. Government intervention, infrastructural investment, and private-sector involvement are needed to ensure Nigeria’s rice farmers reap the full rewards of their efforts and contribute effectively to the nation’s food security and agribusiness growth.
