By Aliyu Baba Mohammed
The harvest season has arrived across northern Nigeria, but while barns are full, many farmers risk losing their profits to middlemen who buy cheap now and sell expensive later, leaving farming families struggling to afford seeds when the next planting season begins.
This is the period when those with capital and storage facilities move into farming communities to buy produce in bulk at low prices. Maize, rice, beans, millet guinea corn, and cash crops like pepper, milo, among others, are currently at their best prices. Farmers who sell everything now often find themselves buying back the same crops at double or triple the price just months later when they need seeds or food for their families.
The cyclical phenomenon has trapped generations of Nigerian farmers in poverty. After spending months cultivating their land, they harvest their crops only to sell them immediately at rock-bottom prices because they need cash for medical bills, settle debts or for daily expenses to keep their families running. The buyers who purchase these crops store them and wait for prices to rise during the planting season or the lean period before the next harvest.
Malam Abdul’akam Suleiman, a farmer from Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, knows this pattern too well;
Every year we sell our farm produce like maize, rice, beans, for a meagre amount. For example, even N25,000 can get you a bag of maize during this harvest period, and most farmers have no choice than to sell because they need money to solve their problems. But when we need to buy seeds in March, the same maize costs N45,000 or N50,000 and above per bag. We are working hard but the middlemen are taking all our profit
While interacting (separately) with farmers in the bustling farm markets of Makarfi, Ikara, and Kubau LGAs (Zone 1), and Giwa local government area (Zone 2) of Kaduna State, conversations revealed a common thread: this phenomenon is a harsh reality they (farmers) all know too well, only that they can do little or nothing about it.
While agripreneurs and commodity traders need to make profits to sustain their businesses, their survival should not come at the expense of farmers who struggle daily to grow and sustain the nation’s agricultural sector. A fair agricultural system benefits both farmers and traders without leaving one side impoverished while the other prospers excessively.
The problem is not just about individual farmers losing money, because when farmers cannot afford quality seeds for the next planting season, agricultural productivity declines. This affects food security and drives up food prices for everyone in the country.
However, some initiatives are working to break this cycle by helping farmers store their produce and sell at better prices. The “Farmer Saver Scheme (FSS)” operates in rural communities across several northwestern states of Nigeria. The programme works by going to farming localities during harvest season to buy portions of farmers’ produce at current market prices.
The scheme keeps detailed records and issues receipts to farmers. When the next planting season arrives and prices have increased, farmers can (voluntarily) buy back their stored produce at the same quantity and price they sold it months earlier. This protects farmers from price exploitation while ensuring they have access to seeds and food when they need it most.
Another option for farmers is engaging with organizations like “Babangona Investment”, which provides comprehensive farming support. The company supplies farmers with seeds, fertilizers, equipment and free agric extension services needed for large-scale farming. This arrangement helps farmers avoid the trap of selling everything at harvest only to struggle to buy inputs for the next season.
Agricultural experts say farmers need to think strategically about harvest season sales rather than selling everything immediately. If possible, farmers should store at least enough produce to cover their seed requirements for the next planting season. Those without storage facilities should explore partnerships with farmer cooperatives or initiatives that offer fair storage and buyback arrangements.
The Northern State governments and agricultural development agencies should also do more to connect farmers with these farmer-friendly initiatives. Many rural farmers are not aware that alternatives to selling everything to middlemen exist. Extension workers could play a vital role in educating farmers about better marketing strategies during harvest season.
Banks and microfinance institutions could also help by offering farmers short-term loans that allow them to hold their produce until prices improve. Currently, most farmers lack access to credit and are forced to sell immediately to meet pressing or urgent financial needs.
For farmers who must sell during harvest season, forming or joining cooperative societies can increase their bargaining power. When farmers come together to negotiate prices, they can get better deals than when selling individually to middlemen.
The harvest season should be a time of celebration and reward for the hard work farmers put into feeding the nation. But instead, it has become a period when those with capital take advantage of those who produce the food. Breaking this cycle requires both individual farmer action and government support for initiatives that protect farmers’ interests.
Farmers must recognize that selling all their produce at harvest time is a decision that will likely cost them more money in the coming months. By keeping some produce aside, engaging with farmer-friendly schemes, or joining cooperatives, they can retain more value from their labour and improve their economic situation over time.
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