Market in Dukku LGA of Gombe State, attributed the fall in the price of food items to gradual return of farming activities in areas affected by insurgency, leading to increase in the food production volume in the country.
“Just three weeks ago, a 100kg bag of cowpea was sold at N100,00 – N102,000, but now it goes for N85,000 – 95,000. Maize was sold this week at between N47,000 and N48,000 as against N52,000 – N55,000 some weeks ago.
“This decline in the prices, as I understand, may not be unconnected to the fact that some farmers are gradually returning to their farms in places like Zamfara and Sokoto, where farmlands were inaccessible due to insurgency.”
‘It’s discouraging,’ farmers lament
Meanwhile, some farmers have raised concerns that this trend could lead to losses and even discourage people from farming.
Speaking to our reporter, Shittu Alhassan Shu’aibu, a farmer in Ningi LGA of Bauchi State, urged government to come to the rescue of farmers by subsidising major farm inputs such as fertilizers and chemicals, warning that farmers might be forced out of production if prices of produce continue to decline while price of farm inputs remain high.
“Honestly, the downward trend in the food prices is discouraging, particularly for farmers who had purchased farm inputs at higher costs. It is even more daunting for irrigation farmers, considering the additional cost they incur in buying fuel, pumping devices and other inputs. This, as I see it, will discourage starters, who perhaps were forced to start farming because of the harsh economic situation in the country.
“If the government wants to introduce a policy that will crash price of food items, it is better to start by subsidising farm inputs so as to at least reduce the production costs incurred by the farmers. As it is now, the price of farm inputs hasn’t reduced but that of the produce has drastically dropped. How much did farmers buy a bag of fertilizer last production season? So, I think a lot needs to be done before adopting certain policies like importation of food items. Importation can be justified when there is scarcity, but right now I think we have enough.”
But Salahuddeen Abubakar, a farmer in Jigawa, held a contrary view, insisting that it was premature to assume that prices would not shoot up again.
“I think it is too early to conclude that the prices will not surge again. It is not yet June, July or August, which is the peak period when prices of food items typically skyrocket due to limited supply.
“Even farmers who sold their produce immediately after harvest when the price was lower than it is now could have made some profits. Those who will be negatively affected, I think, are hoarders and people who want to make excessive profits.
“The major concern is that the price of farm inputs is decreasing but only slightly, and this may discourage farmers if the trend persists.” he added.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has said the recent importation of grains into the country is ill-timed, noting that it will negatively impact local farmers who have already produced grains.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa service, the National Publicity Secretary of AFAN, Mohammed Magaji, said the ideal time to import grains into the country should be when farmers had exhausted their supplies.
“The ideal time to import grains should be when farmers have sold out their stock and the price is high, especially around July, August and September, during which even the farmer himself is looking for grains to buy at cheaper prices,” he said.
Mohammed also lamented that despite significant drop in food prices, the cost of essential farm inputs like fertilizers, seeds and chemicals continues to rise, warning that this will discourage farmers.
Daily Trust
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