Some farmers and traders of various food items have attributed the reduction in the prices of food to the current harvest season for early crops.
Some of them, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said the reduction was also as a result of the sufficient rainfall which had enabled bumper harvests.
The National Secretary of the National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN), Mr. Chidike Ukoh, noted that although the prices of some food items were coming down, the purchasing power of most people were still low.
The National President of Nigeria Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Mrs. Lizzy Igbine, said the drop in prices of food was due to farmers’ harvest season.
“Now, we are harvesting our crops and the prices will naturally come down. We have new potatoes, onions, yams, in the market now and their prices have come down,” she said.
Igbine urged the Federal Government to ensure prompt release of farm inputs to farmers for improved production.
A yam seller at the Nyanya Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Babangida Yakubu, said although the prices of some food items had reduced, the patronage was still low.
Yakubu appealed to government at all levels to pay the new minimum wage so that many of his customers, especially civil servants, would be able to patronise him.
A customer, Mrs. Nkechi Aboh, lauded the efforts of the government and farmers, saying these contributed to the reduction in the prices of food items.
Aboh, who said a small basket of tomatoes, which was sold between N15,000 and N18,000 now goes for between N2,500 and N3,500.
Also, NAN checks in some markets in the FCT and environs revealed that the prices of food items like yams, pepper, potatoes had reduced.
Prices of items like garri, rice, onions, maize, millet and beans were still high.
Five tubers of yam, which were sold between N25,000 and N28,000 now go for about N15,000.
Also, a small basket of pepper initially sold between N15,000 and N10,000 now goes for between N6,000 and N5,500.
The prices of other food items, like onions, garri, and millet, still remained high.
A small basket of onions, which was sold for N3,000, now goes for between N4,500 and N4,000.
Also Nigerian farmers have lauded the drop in July food inflation recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
They called for its sustainability.
The farmers said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The Southwest Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr. Femi Oke, noted that Federal Government’s palliatives to the sector also aided the drop in the July food inflation.
“It is laudable that the food inflation rate dropped in the month, as reported by the NBS. It is good that the government is now taking cognisance of agriculture.
“The palliatives to the farmers and subsidisation of agro-inputs by the government have really been helpful this period. Their prices have been subsidised by the government,” he said.
Oke added: “We were also pre-informed on when to begin our farming because of effect of climate change. So, this helped most farmers to prevent loss of crops and capital.”
“With these measures the government has put in a place for the benefit of the sector, we are not surprised the prices came down a bit in July.
“If the government continues with its palliative measures, definitely the drop in food inflation rates will be sustainable.
“With the introduction of mechanised farming that the government is promoting, there is no way a farmer cannot produce all year round, if he so desires.
“The reason we were not able to produce all year round is because of the nonchalant attitude previously paid to the agriculture sector.”
According to him, the price of tomatoes and habenero pepper (also called Ata rodo) has drastically dropped, compared with previous months.
“Some state governments have also started giving interventions and helping various value-chains in the agriculture sector.
“We, however, need enough extension service agents to help educate farmers on adequate farming techniques for greater yields.
“They should be educated on seed varieties, soil tests, application of fertilisers and agrochemicals, to help increase yields,” Oke said.
The Lagos State Chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr. Mojeed Iyiola, also urged the government to put in more efforts to stabilise food prices.
“The reason for the drop in food inflation rate in July is largely because of the harvest season as attested to by local farmers.
“However, after some time, if adequate measures are not put in place and sustained, we may return to the status quo.
“Two tubers of yams were sold at N5,000 last week and this week. But weeks ago, one tuber was sold for as high as N7,000. This price drop is only sustainable for a while because of the harvests.
“However, to a limited extent, the government’s palliatives to the sector have also contributed to the drop in some food prices.
“We hope the government’s intervention in the sector will be sustainable. So, we do not experience a price reduction just for few weeks and price hike in later weeks.
“We need a programme that will cushion the effect of the issues prompting food hike at least for a period of time,” Iyiola said.
The union leader also reiterated the importance of investing in irrigation systems to ensure consistent harvests.
“We also need to invest in irrigation systems due to inadequate rainfall to achieve continuous harvests.
“Irrigation systems will help us ensure timely harvests to stabilise food prices.
“If majority of local farmers are waiting for the rains, then this will be disastrous to food prices,” he added.
