The 2025 Wet Season Agricultural Performance report by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS) has revealed that the cost of production of major crops per hectare increased between 29.2 per cent and 36.3 per cent.

The report, presented yesterday to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and other stakeholders, revealed that the cost of producing major crops in Nigeria rose significantly in 2025 compared to 2024.

The Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. Yusuf Ahmad, while presenting the report in Abuja, revealed that the increase varies by crop. For instance, among cereals, the cost of producing maize rose by 29.2 per cent; among legumes, soybeans rose by 36.8 per cent; for roots and tubers, yams rose by 25.9 per cent, while cocoyams stood at 13.2 per cent.

The report attributed the sharp increase to the high cost of fertiliser, revealing that the national average price of NPK rose sharply by 19.5 per cent, from ₦43,000 to ₦52,000 per 50kg bag. The report stated that the North West, North Central, and North East recorded the sharpest increases.

It also revealed that the price of urea climbed by 10.2 per cent, from ₦39,500 to ₦43,500, particularly in the South West, South East, and North East.

However, despite the increase in the cost of production, the report revealed that food prices dropped sharply across all six zones compared to 2024. It stated that the cost of maize decreased sharply by 49–85 per cent, rice declined by 30–38.9 per cent, sorghum had a minimal average decline of 50.2 per cent, and brown beans declined by 48.2 per cent.

Amid the gloomy outlook, the report stated that there has been a major increase in food production in the country, rising from 9.1 million metric tonnes in 2024 to 9.4 million in 2025, coupled with a 1.4 per cent expansion in cultivated area.

It revealed that Niger State recorded the highest output, while Kogi State accounted for the largest land area.

In the meantime, a total of 19.3 thousand hectares were affected by crop pests and diseases during the 2025 wet season, with an estimated yield loss of 22.5 per cent.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, in his response to the report, noted that the high cost of fertiliser was due to the cost of importing raw materials but disclosed a recent programme under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative to make farm inputs available and affordable.

Also addressing the issue of farmers lamenting high production costs while consumers benefit from the drop in food prices, the Ministry assured that the government is trying to balance the welfare of farmers and consumers.

He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to allocate ₦250 million to the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for onward disbursement to smallholder farmers.

He called on non-state actors to support the federal government in creating a verified farmers’ registry to reach genuine farmers.

On the increase in food production despite daunting challenges, Senator Kyari applauded the farmers, saying: “Our farmers are very, very resilient. Despite the high input costs, they all went out and produced. And that’s why we have a positive impact between 2024 and 2025. So I offer my heart to all our farmers.”