Taraba State is witnessing an unprecedented influx of irrigation farmers from across Nigeria, despite surging costs of petrol, fertiliser, and other farming inputs. Farmers are drawn to the fertile lands along the River Benue valley, which stretches over 157 kilometres and spans seven local government areas, including Lau, Karim-Lamido, Gassol, and Ibbi.
The area’s vast irrigation potential allows for the cultivation of rice, maize, beans, wheat, and vegetables twice during the dry season. However, rising input costs are impacting production expenses. A litre of petrol in farming locations now sells for N2,000, while pesticides cost between N6,000 and N6,500, and fertiliser prices have surged to N34,000 per bag.
Sale Binnari, an irrigation farmer in Karim-Lamido, noted that despite these challenges, hundreds of farmers from states such as Kogi, Enugu, Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Yobe are arriving in large numbers, driven by the profitability of irrigation farming. Wealthier individuals are increasingly joining due to the sector’s lucrative potential.
Binnari attributed the increased participation partly to the recent drought in Taraba, which affected wet season farming and pushed many farmers toward irrigation. Similarly, Alhaji Haruno Sheka, the village head of Sheka, emphasized the profitability of irrigation farming, which has motivated thousands of people to engage in it annually.
The rising interest in irrigation farming underscores its economic potential and the need for governmental support to address the challenges posed by soaring input costs.
