By Olokuta Rofiat
A sharp drop in staple food prices has sparked growing concern among Nigerian farmers, who accuse the federal government of allowing excessive imports that have flooded the market and driven prices down.
The price crash, which began after the government opened a duty-free import window in September 2024, has seen the cost of rice, maize, millet, cassava flour, and garri fall by as much as 50% in some rural markets across the country.
Farmers say the influx of imported grains including rice, maize, sorghum, and wheat has eroded the value of their locally produced harvests. “I spent ₦2.5 million planting rice, but I can’t even get ₦1.5 million from sales,” one farmer lamented, describing widespread losses among producers.
However, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, dismissed the import-blame narrative, insisting that the drop in prices was due to improved domestic output under government schemes such as the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and the Agro-Pocket Programme.
Despite those claims, rising production costs from fertiliser and herbicides to labour and transport have left many farmers operating at a loss. While consumers may welcome cheaper food, experts warn that sustained low prices could discourage cultivation and threaten future harvests, ultimately worsening food insecurity.
The government says it is supporting farmers with free inputs to cushion the impact of the market slump, insisting that most imported grains “have not even been released” for sale.
As both sides trade blame, Nigeria faces a critical dilemma: lower prices may offer short-term relief to consumers, but prolonged losses could cripple agricultural productivity and deepen dependence on imports putting the country’s food security at risk.
