Soil fertility is the bedrock for the success and productivity of agricultural farms. In Nigeria today, however,  the sky-high prices of chemical fertilisers and worsening soil degradation have left many smallholders searching for a more sustainable, affordable way forward. Composting offers a clear solution. 

As a sustainable and cost-effective alternative, composting presents a viable solution. By converting everyday organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, farmers can enhance their soil health, increase crop yields, and reduce input costs.

This blog will explore how compost builds soil fertility on a budget and practical DIY tips designed for West African conditions.

Why Compost Matters for Affordable Soil Fertility

Nigeria’s farmers face tough choices. Prolonged use of chemical fertilisers often strips soils of organic matter, leaving them tired and less productive over time. Meanwhile, fertiliser costs have soared, sometimes beyond the reach of smallholders. Composting offers a low-cost, high-impact alternative using what’s already at hand: crop residues, kitchen scraps, and animal manure.

Amy Gaman, CEO of Nuru Nigeria, champions the transformation of farm and kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost among farmers in the northeast. Gaman emphasizes that

 “healthy soil is fundamental to sustainable farming, and composting is one key way to nurture that foundation while reducing reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers.” 

By utilizing readily available local materials like leaves, manure, and crop stalks, farmers can produce their own compost. This practice not only enhances crop yields but also significantly reduces input costs and strengthens resilience to climate shocks.

Benefits of Compost to Improve Soil Fertility 

Composting offers several key benefits that enhance soil health and agricultural practices. 

• Nutrient Enrichment: Compost adds essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are vital for plant growth and development.
• Soil Quality Improvement: It improves soil structure, enhancing water retention capabilities. This leads to healthier plants and reduces the frequency of irrigation.
• Microbial Activity: The introduction of compost stimulates microbial life in the soil, which plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and makes nutrients more accessible to plants.
• Cost Reduction: By utilising compost, farmers and gardeners can significantly reduce input costs by decreasing their dependence on purchased chemical fertilisers, fostering a more sustainable approach to agriculture.

In Nigeria, the shift to composting has helped countless farmers avoid the expense and uncertainty of synthetic fertilisers. The best part? Anyone can do it, with little more than waste materials, space, and patience.

How to Make Budget-Friendly Compost in Nigeria

Ready to start composting? Here is a simple, budget-friendly system:

1. Collect Your Materials: Gather dry materials (crop stalks, leaves, sawdust) and green, moist ones (vegetable peels, grass clippings, fresh manure).
2. Choose a Spot: Use a shaded corner of your farm or backyard. Pile directly on the ground or use wooden frames if available.
3. Build in Layers: Alternate dry and green materials. Each layer should be two to six inches thick.
4. Add Water: Moisten, don’t soak the pile after each layer. Dampness helps microbes work.
5. Turn Regularly: Mix the pile with a hoe or stick every two to three weeks. This introduces air and speeds up decomposition.
6. Wait and Watch: In Nigeria’s warm climate, compost is usually ready in three to four months. It will be dark, crumbly, and smell earthy.

Tip: Let them contribute manure for extra nutrients if you have livestock.

Crops That Benefit Most (and How to Apply) from Compost Usage

Compost is especially valuable for:

• Vegetable plots: Tomatoes, peppers, okra, greens, mix compost into planting holes or beds.
• Maize and cereals: Incorporate 2–5 tonnes per hectare before planting.
• Tree and root crops: Compost applied around the base or ploughed into the soil has long benefited fruit trees, cassava, and yams.

Apply compost at planting and, as a side dressing, halfway through the growing season.

Tips for a Truly Affordable Compost System

• Involve family or neighbours. Shared labour makes the process faster and easier.
• Use locally available materials only; don’t buy what you can source for free.
• If dealing with large plots, assign composting to a section at a time, scaling up as you learn.
• Blend approaches: Apply compost when planting and supplement with small doses of chemical fertilisers if needed. This hybrid method delivers strong early growth, then leverages compost’s slow-release nutrients.

Composting is a proven route to richer, more productive farmland and bigger savings for Nigerian growers. Through straightforward methods and leveraging expert-led initiatives,  farmers are transitioning from expensive and risky chemical inputs to compost. This shift not only improves the health of the soil but also promotes sustainable farming practices throughout the country.