By Faridat Salifu
Farmers’ groups have dismissed the Federal Government’s claim that a surge in local food production is behind the recent fall in prices across Nigerian markets, describing the assertion as misleading and disconnected from the harsh realities of production.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Limited said the temporary drop in prices has more to do with seasonal harvests, import waivers, and weak consumer purchasing power than any significant improvement in output.
AFAN President, Kabir Ibrahim, said while the minister’s observation reflects current trends, the situation is largely seasonal and unlikely to last without substantial government support.
“The minister’s statement is empirical from the current trend in food prices, but we can add seasonal or harvest period price as an important factor in the prevailing low prices in commodities,” Ibrahim said.
He pointed out that the combination of harvest season supply, zero-tariff imports between July and December 2023, and a depressed economy have all contributed to temporary price relief.
“Farmers, like all Nigerians, are also buyers in the same economy. They too face high costs of living, even though they produce food,” Ibrahim said, adding that without intervention in input costs, many may not return to the farms next season.
AFAN urged the Federal Government to declare a “state of emergency” on input prices and introduce a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for farm produce to ensure fair returns for producers.
Similarly, National Cashew Farmers President, Yunusa Enemali, faulted the minister’s comment, accusing the government of being out of touch with realities on the ground.
“Why is he telling us that it is because of local production? Is the government intervening in anything? The farmer borrows to produce, and because he has no warehouse to store his goods, he sells cheaply to recover his money,” Enemali said.
He highlighted the lack of storage infrastructure, market regulation, and price control mechanisms as key factors forcing farmers to sell at a loss.
“Go to Dei-Dei in Abuja and see how rotten farm produce is because of poor warehousing. There is no market regulatory board to stabilize prices. You buy tomatoes today at N5, tomorrow it’s N10, and next week it’s N100 — there’s no control,” he lamented.
Enemali also accused middlemen of exploiting farmers during the harvest season, saying many producers have no choice but to sell cheaply due to lack of support.
“The middleman will hit the price down to benefit himself while the farmer suffers,” he said.
He argued that the government should not take credit for the temporary price drop, noting that fundamental challenges — such as poor infrastructure, high transport costs, and lack of market regulation — remain unresolved.
“If the food price has fallen, is it affordable to the common man? Has fuel or transport cost dropped? The government shouldn’t take advantage because it has not done anything,” Enemali said.
Both associations warned that without a comprehensive approach to input costs, storage, and market regulation, food prices will soon rebound, worsening the pressure on both farmers and consumers.