Rising fertiliser prices are already changing decisions on farms, from input use to planting schedules. At FAO CCP 77, WFO called for responses that reflect farmers’ different capacities to absorb shocks and strengthen resilience beyond import volumes.

Rising fertiliser prices are already forcing farmers to reconsider input use, planting schedules and production decisions, with smallholder and family farms facing the sharpest pressure, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) told a side event held at FAO Headquarters on 13 July 2026.

Speaking during the event, WFO Secretary General Dr Andrea Porro stressed that, while disruptions to supply chains remain a serious concern, the most immediate constraint for many farmers is more affordability rather than availability of fertiliser.

The side event, “Implications of the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz for global agricultural and fertiliser markets and trade,” was organised on the margins of the 77th Session of the FAO Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP 77). It examined the effects of the Middle East crisis on fertiliser markets, trade flows, agricultural production and food security, as well as possible short- and medium-term responses.

Drawing on input gathered from WFO member organisations across regions, Dr Porro highlighted three central messages from farmers.

First, rising prices are already affecting production decisions. Farmers are reducing fertiliser application rates, postponing purchases and, in some cases, delaying planting. The consequences may not yet be fully visible in current food markets, but they risk emerging later in the production cycle through lower yields and consequently reduced food availability.

Second, farmers do not have the same capacity to absorb the shock. Smallholder and family farms are often forced to adjust sooner and more sharply because they have less access to liquidity, storage facilities and forward-purchasing arrangements. Larger producers may be better equipped to manage short-term volatility through early procurement, cash-flow reserves, or collective purchasing mechanisms.

Responses to the crisis must therefore reflect farmers’ differing levels of exposure and their capacity to withstand prolonged price pressure.

Third, resilience cannot be measured only in terms of import volumes. Dr Porro underlined the importance of cooperative and collective purchasing, affordable seasonal credit, strategic reserves, diversified supply sources and routes, improved market intelligence and greater price transparency.

These measures should be combined with continued support for open, predictable and rules-based trade, as well as longer-term investment in integrated nutrient management, soil testing, extension services and more precise fertiliser applications.

Screenshot from the side event “Implications of the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz for global agricultural and fertilizer markets and trade”

The Secretary General described how farmers’ decisions tend to escalate as pressure persists. They may initially adjust the timing of purchases in response to liquidity constraints. If prices remain high, they begin to reduce application rates, delay planting or rely more heavily on locally available nutrient sources where feasible. Prolonged pressure can eventually force harder decisions about which crops and plots to prioritise.

Access to water adds to these choices. On a rainfed field, applying fertiliser amid uncertain rainfall represents a significant financial risk. At the same time, favourable rainfall cannot deliver its full production potential when farmers cannot afford adequate crop nutrients.

WFO members preparing for the upcoming planting seasons have also raised concerns about fertiliser prices, which have not yet been set, creating further uncertainty about future production costs. Landlocked countries, small islands and heavily import-dependent countries face additional exposure due to higher energy, transport and logistics costs.

For Global South countries that depend heavily on imported fertiliser, Dr Porro identified four recurring priorities raised by WFO members: facilitating cooperative and collective purchasing; improving access to affordable credit for smallholder and family farms; developing strategic reserves while diversifying supply sources and trade routes; and investing in biofertilisers, soil testing, training and extension services.

These services and technologies remain particularly difficult for smaller producers to access. Better market information and price transparency are also essential to help farmers plan purchases and make informed production decisions.

The SG referred to feedback from WFO members in Mauritius and Nepal as an example of cooperation between public authorities and farmers’ organisations to strengthen storage and reserve capacity. However, he cautioned that the underlying liquidity pressure remains acute.

Smallholder and family farms have long operated on narrow margins, and their ability to absorb further shocks in fertiliser, fuel and transport costs is diminishing.

WFO’s contribution to CCP 77 forms part of its wider work to gather and amplify the experiences of its member organisations in response to the Middle East crisis. It builds on the WFO statement published in April 2026, which called for coordinated action to stabilise input markets, strengthen market transparency, keep trade open and predictable, and ensure that farmers’ organisations are directly involved in developing responses to the crisis.

READ MORE ABOUT WFO’S COVERAGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS AND ITS IMPACT ON FARMERS.

Cover photo: Screenshot from the side event “Implications of the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz for global agricultural and fertilizer markets and trade”