Some farmers in Dutse, Jigawa, have resorted to animal dung to enrich their soil nutrients due to the rising cost of synthetic chemical fertilisers.
A cross-section of the farmers stated in an interview on Tuesday in Dutse that premium fertilisers were beyond the reach of smallholder farmers due to high prices.
They said that the trend forced them to rely more on organic manure sourced from cattle, goats and other livestock.
Dan’asabe Rabiu, a farmer at Gandu village, said farmers collect animal waste from homes and livestock areas and apply it to the farmland during land preparation and cultivation.
He said that cow dung is an important source of nutrients for the soil because it is readily available and requires little money to obtain.
“Instead of spending a lot of money on fertilisers, we collect manure from animals around our homes and use it on our farms.
“It helps us reduce the money we spend on farming, especially at a time when the cost of agricultural inputs is high,” Mr Rabiu said.
A maize grower, Nasiru Bala, said that application of manure was popular among farmers who kept livestock or had access to households that reared animals.
Mr Bala said that farmers collected manure and allowed it to decompose before applying it to their fields.
He said that the practice reduces dependence on granulated fertilisers and increases crop yields.
“We have animals in the village; it is readily accessible and cheaper,” he said, adding that manure helped smallholder farmers to effectively manage limited resources.
Also, Iliya Sama’ila said that most farmers could not afford enough fertilisers for their farms due to limited income, particularly during the cropping season when they need money for seeds, labour and other inputs.
“Manure provides farmers with an affordable and accessible alternative to nourish their farmlands,” he said.
Similarly, Sule Abubakar said that the practice allowed farmers to use animal waste despite dumping it around their homes.
He said farmers recorded improvements in the condition of their crops after manure application.
“Many farmers prefer manure because it is available and does not require a lot of money. It has become part of the way we prepare our farms,” he said.
Mr Abubakar called for agricultural extension services to educate farmers on the proper collection, storage and application of animal manure.
Musa Ayuba, a fertiliser retailer at Dutse market, said most farmers could not afford exorbitant fertiliser prices.
A check at the market showed that a 50-kilogramme bag of NPK brand of fertilisers was sold between N33,000 and N55,000, depending on its quality, while Urea brand of the product sold at N45,000 per bag.
(NAN)
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