Farmers, Traders Express Concerns Over Rising Food Prices Despite Harvest Season

Farmers and food sellers in the South-South region of Nigeria have raised concerns over the high cost of food, even as the harvest season is underway. Stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross Rivers states reported minimal reductions in food prices, in stark contrast to the significant drops seen during previous harvest seasons. In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, foodstuff seller Mrs. Benedicta Amadi explained that consumers are not experiencing the benefits of the harvest due to the escalating costs of transportation. She noted that a considerable portion of her business profits now goes toward covering these increased costs. For instance, the price of a sizable tuber of yam, which sold for N800 during the 2023 harvest season, has skyrocketed to between N4,000 and N6,000 this year. Perishable items such as tomatoes, onions, and peppers have seen dramatic price increases as well. According to Amadi, a basket of pepper that sold for N1,500 to N3,000 in 2023 now costs nearly N16,000. She added that prices of staples like rice, beans, and corn might decrease during the dry season in other parts of the country, but this may not be felt in Rivers State if the current transportation issues persist. Amadi urged the federal government to implement palliative measures in the transportation sector, which she believes would positively impact food prices. Cassava farmer Mr. Godwin Akandu echoed these sentiments, noting only slight decreases in the prices of ‘garri’ and vegetables. He attributed this to the premature harvesting of crops, a strategy farmers have adopted to mitigate losses in the event of floods. Akandu, who serves as the President of the Etche Farmers Cooperative Union, highlighted the wide price gap between the 2023 and 2024 harvest seasons. For example, a basin of garri that sold for N7,000 in 2023 now sells for between N16,000 and N18,000, largely due to increased production and transportation costs driven by high petrol prices.

Akandu called on the state government to actively participate in federal agricultural programs to improve food availability. He also emphasized the need for investment in mechanized agriculture through partnerships with local farmers, as seen in other states, to address the challenge of high food prices. The Programme Manager of the Agricultural Development Program (ADP), Mr. Christopher Tamuno, revealed that the state is expected to receive agro-inputs from the Federal Government soon. This distribution, delayed by recent nationwide protests, is part of the government’s agricultural palliative aimed at boosting food production. Tamuno assured that ADP is committed to enhancing agriculture by providing ongoing training for farmers in the state. In Akwa Ibom, foodstuff seller Mrs. Happiness Oboh, who operates at Udua Nka Market in Eket, reported negligible price drops for commodities during the current harvest season. She observed that while the cost of a bag of garri has slightly decreased from N120,000 in May to N105,000, the price of a tuber of yam has increased from N10,000 to N16,000 during the same period.

Oboh also noted that the price of beans has surged from N55,000 in early 2024 to between N80,000 and N250,000. She attributed these price hikes to the influence of multiple market unions. Mr. Bassey Inwang, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Akwa Ibom Chapter, identified several factors contributing to high food costs, including rising fuel prices, herders' activities, and inadequate farmland. Inwang outlined measures the government should implement to ensure food availability, such as timely distribution of farm inputs, access to grants and loans, and investment in modern agricultural machinery. He also stressed the importance of addressing insecurity, which has forced many farmers to abandon their lands due to the fear of attacks. In Cross River State, trader Mr. Mubarak Ibrahim, who operates near Watt Market in Calabar, reported minimal decreases in the cost of some food items. He noted that a 50kg bag of local rice now sells for N85,000, down slightly from N88,000 in July. As the harvest season progresses, stakeholders remain hopeful that food prices will eventually decrease, bringing much-needed relief to both farmers and consumers.