Agriculture experts have urged the Federal Government to address transportation challenges in the movement of farm produce in order to achieve its goal of reducing food prices.
The experts gave the advice while reacting to a survey conducted by reporters in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers on current foodstuff prices. They identified high transport costs and deplorable road networks as major contributors to rising food prices.
They acknowledged a recent drop in the prices of some commodities but attributed it to the harvest season, the 150-day duty-free food import policy and lack of preservation facilities. They warned that the decline was temporary and called for long-term solutions.
In Rivers, some analysts commended the government’s food intervention policies, including the duty-free import policy for essential food items, which they said contributed to price reductions.
Mr. Imam Ewang, a farm produce offtaker in Port Harcourt, said the duty-free import policy was short-term and could trigger a surge in food prices once it expires. He warned that markets were already flooded with cheaper imported food items, posing risks to local farmers struggling with high labour and input costs.
“For instance, a 50kg bag of rice which sold for between N85,000 and N100,000 now sells for between N45,000 and N60,000, depending on quality. A basin of garri, which sold for N30,000, now goes for N11,000.
“While consumers buy food happily, farmers suffer losses due to the high cost of production,” he said.
He noted that the import waiver would have been more beneficial if there were functional silos across the 36 states for stockpiling ahead of the planting season.
An agriculture extension officer, who spoke anonymously, called for a holistic intervention addressing security, farmer–herder conflict, storage, transportation, incentives and distribution. He noted that despite improved seedlings and yields, poor storage facilities continue to undermine food stability.
“Visit any major market dumps and see the wastage. A big bunch of plantain is currently sold for N3,000 to N4,000 because it’s in season, but in a few months the same size won’t be available for N10,000,” he said, lamenting that Rivers State does not have a functional silo.
In Port Harcourt, a yam trader, Mrs. Hamzat Ahmed, said high transport costs were limiting the impact of government intervention policies.
“No matter the level of incentives, high transport cost will continue to burden distribution. Government should revive the rail system to ease interstate movement of goods,” she said.
In Cross River, economist Mr. Richard Inoyo said Nigeria’s challenges were rooted in weak storage and logistics systems. He decried poor rural roads which lead to massive post-harvest losses.
“Nigeria loses up to 25 per cent of its food at the farm level due to poor storage and road networks,” he said. He urged investment in silos, processing centres, and better rural road infrastructure.
Inoyo noted that the current price drop was mainly driven by the harvest season, adding that items like palm oil and honey remain expensive because they are not in season. He said increased farming activities due to economic pressure had also boosted supply.
In Uyo, a foodstuff trader, Mrs. Judith Ameh, confirmed the price drop. She said rice now sells for between N50,000 and N55,000, down from between N70,000 and N90,000. However, she said poor roads and high transport costs remain a challenge.
Prices of grains have also dropped: guinea corn currently sells for N2,800 per custard bucket, from N4,000, while millet and maize now sell for N2,500 compared to over N3,000 earlier in the year. Ogbono prices remain largely unchanged.
Ameh said honey beans, which cost N250,000 per bag last December, now sells for N100,000, causing losses for farmers who stocked up earlier. She called on governments to reduce transportation costs to sustain lower food prices.
Residents in Uyo expressed relief over the reduction in prices of garri, rice, beans and yam. They, however, lamented the rising cost of cooking gas.
Mr. Gabriel Wilson said he now buys cooking gas for between N1,600 and N1,800 per kilogram, up from N1,050 to N1,100.
At Akpan Andem market, a dealer, Mr. Ubong Duff, confirmed that food prices have dropped slightly since October due to the harvest season.
A 50kg bag of parboiled rice now sells for N70,000 to N75,000, down from N80,000 in September. Garri sells for N1,000 per 10 cups, while a 50kg bag is now N35,000 to N40,000, down from N50,000 to N55,000.
Mrs. Ndifreke Ime, a housewife, said prices of garri, beans and rice had dropped slightly, expressing hope that the trend would continue.
A beverage dealer, Miss Agnes Akpan, said prices of beverage products had remained relatively stable, with a 450g pack now selling for N4,000 instead of N5,000.
However, Prof. John Udoidem of the University of Uyo said the reduction in food prices would not be sustained. He blamed the erratic and unstable petrol pump price, which affects the cost of goods and services.
“The drop in food prices is temporary. Without stability in petrol pricing, food prices will continue to fluctuate,” he said.
He urged regulatory agencies to stabilize fuel prices to reduce pressure on consumers.
