Sugarcane farmers in northern Nigeria’s Kano State say a mysterious disease has ravaged their crops, causing an estimated ₦2 billion ($1.2 million) in losses and threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of rural households.
Farmers in Gamadan, a major sugarcane-producing community on the outskirts of Kano, told Agro Climate News that the outbreak has devastated their fields and may lead to shortages of the crop in the coming months.
“Gamadan is the largest producer of sugarcane in this region,” said Idris Musa Kura, a young farmer. “We invested everything this year, but a strange disease has wiped out most of our crops. Many people have lost their savings.”
The disease, whose cause has not yet been identified, has reportedly spread to other sugarcane-growing areas including Tofa, Dukawa, Kunshama, Danhassan, and Garin Kaya — all located in Kura Local Government Area.
Kura said many farmers are now abandoning sugarcane for other crops due to repeated losses. “Farming sugarcane takes nearly a full year of hard work. Seeing everything destroyed at harvest time is heartbreaking,” he said.
Alhaji Kabiru Sulaiman, a sugarcane trader in the region, warned that unless authorities intervene, the market could face shortages or sharp price increases. “The situation is beyond what we can handle. If nothing is done, there will be no sugarcane to sell soon,” he said.
Agricultural extension officer Salisu Saad said he and his team had assessed affected farms and submitted a report to local authorities. “The situation is alarming, and immediate measures are needed to contain the spread,” Saad told reporters.
Kano State is one of Nigeria’s leading sugarcane-producing regions, supplying raw material for local consumption and small-scale processing. Farmers say the latest outbreak could threaten both production and employment across the value chain.