High Food Costs Amidst Harvest: Concerns from Farmers and Traders

Concerns have been raised by farmers and food sellers in the South-South region regarding the persistently high cost of food items, despite being amidst the harvest season.

Stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross Rivers, highlighted that although there was a noticeable drop in food prices during the previous harvest, the current season has not reflected the same trend.

According to Mrs. Benedicta Amadi, a foodstuff seller in Port Harcourt, the impact of the harvest season did not translate to lower prices for consumers due to the high transportation costs involved. She emphasized that a significant portion of her business profit now goes towards transportation expenses, ultimately leading to increased retail prices.

Amadi pointed out specific examples such as the price of a tuber of yam, which was sold for N800 during the 2023 harvest season, now commanding a price range of N4,000 to N6,000. The disparity in prices for perishable items like tomatoes, onions, and pepper between the 2024 and 2023 harvest seasons was also highlighted.

She expressed concerns that unless the transportation challenges are addressed, the prices of staple foods like rice, beans, and corn might not see a significant drop, especially in regions like Rivers.

Advocating for proactive measures from the government to address transportation issues, Amadi stressed that such interventions could have a positive impact on stabilizing food prices.

Similarly, Mr. Godwin Akandu, a cassava farmer, noted only a minimal decline in the prices of ‘garri’ and vegetables compared to previous months. He attributed this slight change to the premature harvesting of cassava and vegetables, a strategic move by farmers to mitigate losses in case of a flood disaster.

He highlighted the substantial increase in the price of ‘garri’, a staple food product, with a basin now priced between N16,000 and N18,000 compared to N7,000 in 2023, citing the interdependence on petrol in both production and transportation processes.

Akandu, who leads the Etche Farmers Cooperative Union, urged the state government to align with federal agricultural programs to promote food security and availability within the state.

In Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Happiness Oboh, a foodstuff seller at Udua Nka Market in Eket, echoed similar sentiments of minimal price changes during the current harvest season, citing examples of varied price trends for commodities like garri, yam, beans, and rice.

The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Akwa Ibom Chapter, Mr. Bassey Inwang, identified factors such as the high cost of fuel, challenges with herders, and inadequate farmland as contributors to the ongoing increase in food prices.

Inwang outlined key parameters for the government to ensure food sufficiency, emphasizing the timely distribution of farming inputs, grants, loans, availability of farmland, and adoption of mechanized farming practices.

The efforts towards enhancing agriculture were further underscored by Mr. Christopher Tamuno, the Programme Manager of the Agricultural Development Program (ADP), who highlighted forthcoming agro-input distributions in Akwa Ibom to support food production.

The state, through the ADP, aims to continue training and supporting local farmers to boost agricultural productivity and potentially alleviate the high cost of food items in the market.

(NAN).