South-South Farmers and Traders Lament High Food Prices Despite Harvest Season

Farmers and food sellers in Nigeria’s South-South region are raising alarms over the persistently high cost of food, even during what should be a peak harvest season. This situation, as reported by stakeholders across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states, starkly contrasts with previous years, where harvests typically led to noticeable drops in food prices.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Despite being in the midst of the harvest season, only a few food items have seen minor price reductions. Many stakeholders argue that the expected relief for consumers hasn’t materialized, largely due to escalating transportation costs that have offset any benefits from the harvest.

Impact of Transportation Costs on Food Prices

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, foodstuff seller Mrs. Benedicta Amadi expressed concern that the high cost of transportation has negated any potential price drops from the harvest. According to her, the profits from food sales are now being consumed by the increased expenses of transporting goods. She highlighted that in 2023, a sizable tuber of yam was sold for N800, but it now costs between N4,000 and N6,000.

Amadi also noted the sharp rise in prices for perishable items such as tomatoes, onions, and peppers. A basket of pepper that sold for between N1,500 and N3,000 in 2023 now commands nearly N16,000. The prices of tomatoes and onions have followed a similar trend, leaving consumers with little respite.

Farmers and Experts Weigh In

Cassava farmer Mr. Godwin Akandu also reported minimal decreases in the prices of ‘garri’ and vegetables, which he attributes to premature harvesting. This practice was adopted by many farmers to mitigate potential losses from flood disasters. Akandu, who also serves as the President of the Etche Farmers Cooperative Union, emphasized that both production and transportation costs remain heavily dependent on petrol, further exacerbating the situation. He revealed that a basin of garri, which sold for N7,000 in 2023, now sells for between N16,000 and N18,000.

Mr. Christopher Tamuno, Programme Manager at the Agricultural Development Program (ADP), mentioned that the state would soon benefit from the Federal Government’s agro-input distribution, which is part of an agricultural palliative intended to boost food production. The distribution, however, has been delayed due to nationwide protests.

Minimal Price Reductions in Akwa Ibom and Cross River

In Akwa Ibom, foodstuff seller Mrs. Happiness Oboh from Udua Nka Market, Eket, reported that price reductions during the current harvest season have been insignificant. For instance, while a bag of garri that sold for N120,000 in May is now priced at N105,000, the cost of a tuber of yam has skyrocketed from N10,000 in May to N16,000. Similarly, the price of beans has surged, with a bag that cost N55,000 earlier in the year now selling for between N80,000 and N250,000.

In Cross River, trader Mr. Mubarak Ibrahim, who operates near the popular Watt Market in Calabar, noted a slight decrease in the prices of staple foods like rice and beans. He reported that a 50kg bag of local rice, which sold for N88,000 in July, now sells for N85,000, while the price of a 100kg bag of white beans has dropped from N210,000 to between N190,000 and N195,000.

Government Initiatives and Future Outlook

Cross River’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, stated that the state government has procured 108 medium tractors for distribution to cooperative societies, with the aim of improving food production. The ongoing cultivation of 50,000 hectares of rice in Ogoja and 90 hectares of cassava across 10 communities is expected to quadruple food production by the 2025 harvest season.