A director with the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP), Lawan Masa, has urged farmers to stop selling their produce immediately after harvest when prices are usually low.

Speaking on Friday in Bauchi, Mr Masa warned that selling produce early to rich merchants hurts long-term farmer prosperity.

He advised farmers to stop selling at the farm to wealthy middlemen, popularly known as “money bags”, who often exploited their urgent need for quick cash after harvest time.

Mr Masa stressed that such instant sales usually leave farmers at a disadvantage, making it hard for them to save, reinvest, or prepare properly for the next planting season.

He explained that middlemen took advantage of post-harvest desperation, purchasing produce cheaply, storing it, and then reselling it at a much higher price within just a few months.

“Farmers should know that selling immediately at low prices means operating at a loss. These merchants benefit from your labour, becoming richer while you remain stuck,” Mr Masa said.

He urged farmers to adopt effective storage methods to preserve their crops, giving them time to wait for better market conditions that would ensure they earned higher returns.

According to him, delayed sales and good storage practices will increase profits and help farmers invest in quality seeds, fertilisers, and other inputs for the next planting cycle.

Mr Masa also encouraged farmer groups and cooperative societies to build communal storage facilities that would support collective bargaining and access to improved market prices.

The BSADP director emphasised the need for patience, planning, and financial discipline.

He said agriculture must be treated as a business, not merely a survival strategy.

Mr Masa reiterated the government’s commitment to support farmers with training, tools, and resources that would improve productivity and drive sustainable development in Bauchi State.

(NAN)