News Investigators/ Farmers in Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states have expressed concern over the sharp fall in prices of major food commodities despite recording bumper harvests this season.
They said the situation had negatively affected their livelihoods, especially after purchasing fertilisers and other farm inputs at high costs.
The farmers spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
Some of them revealed that a 100kg bag of maize now sells for between ₦30,000 and ₦35,000, down from about ₦70,000 in 2024, while a 100kg bag of locally processed rice, which sold for ₦150,000 last year, now goes for ₦120,000.
Mr Sunday Bulus, a farmer from Nasarawa State, described the development as unfortunate, saying many farmers had incurred heavy losses this year after purchasing fertilisers, herbicides and seeds at exorbitant prices.
“Some of us collected loans to farm and are still repaying them. Now, a bag of maize sells between ₦30,000 and ₦35,000,” he said.
Bulus appealed to the Federal Government to intervene by reducing the cost of farm inputs and addressing insecurity, which, he said, still prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands.
Another farmer, Mr Haruna Ali, said the sharp drop in prices had left many farmers struggling to recover their investments.
“I bought maize and rice seeds, fertilisers and herbicides at high prices. A bag of maize that used to sell between ₦60,000 and ₦70,000 now sells for just ₦30,000 to ₦35,000,” he lamented.
Similarly, Mrs Hauwa Isah, said the decline in food prices had made it difficult for farmers to meet family needs such as school fees and healthcare.
“How can we pay our children’s school fees with these poor prices after buying inputs at high costs?” she asked,
She called on the government to establish a price control board to stabilise both farm input and produce prices.
Other farmers also raised concerns about insecurity, especially during the harvest season.
Mr Danjuma Ibrahim, a smallholder farmer in Lafia, said that herders often attacked farmers and carted away harvested produce.
“Kidnappings are also rampant. Transport costs are high, and farmers are forced to sell at giveaway prices,” he added.
Ibrahim, however, noted that the price drop could also be linked to the peak of the harvest season rather than government policy.
Mr Joshua Adagazu, an agricultural expert of the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), Kokona Local Government Area, advised farmers to adopt proper storage methods to minimise post-harvest losses.
He warned against the indiscriminate use of chemicals during storage, urging the use of safer and natural preservation techniques.
“They should properly dry their produce, use clean, pest-free and well-ventilated storage facilities. If you must use chemicals, ensure that the crops are stored for at least three to four months before consumption,” Adagazu said.
He further encouraged farmers to use airtight bags or jerry cans for grain storage.
Also, Mr Ewuga Anjugu, a retired civil servant and farmer, appealed to government to train farmers on modern storage practices, while another farmer, Mr Peter Gamba, cautioned against the use of liquid chemicals in grain storage, describing them as harmful to human health.
In Niger, Dr Abdullahi Jabi, an agriculturist, and former National President of the Nigerian Farmers Association, blamed the situation on insecurity, poor road networks and flooding.
Jabi said that banditry had forced many farmers off their farmlands, while the high cost of post-harvest chemicals and lack of fertilisers had worsened their plight.
“As we speak, many farmers cannot access their farms due to flooding. Some have lost their crops and received no support from government,” he said.
He noted that the Federal Government’s recent downward review of agricultural product prices had contributed to the market slump.
“A bag of maize now sells for ₦35,000 and keeps dropping. Guinea corn sells for ₦40,000, down from ₦75,000 to ₦100,000 last year,” he said
Jabi attributed the crash to increased production, appreciation of the naira, and market oversupply, adding that the situation had discouraged long-term storage.
He urged government to subsidise agriculture and provide tractors, seeds and fertilisers at affordable rates, while addressing insecurity and illegal mining that had lured many youths away from farming.
Similarly, DrNurudeen Ibrahim, a farmer and agronomist, said improved security and favourable policies had encouraged higher yields this year.
He, however, called for sustained provision of organic fertilisers, tractors and low-interest loans to boost production and ensure food security.
Another farmer, Mr. Godfrey Akande, attributed the bumper harvest to adequate rainfall and timely fertiliser distribution but urged government to make inputs available earlier next year.
In Kogi State, some farmers described the 2025 harvest as better than last year’s but lamented that the joy was dampened by poor market prices.
Mr Maaji Bulus, a peasant farmer in Lokoja, said despite the good harvest, the market had been flooded with produce, forcing prices down.
“Prices of maize, beans and garri have fallen so badly that even if you sell all you harvested, you can’t recover a quarter of your costs. The reopening of borders and influx of imported foodstuffs have worsened the situation,” he said.
Bulus urged the Federal Government to revisit its border policy and reduce the cost of inputs to keep farmers in business.
Also, Mr Caleb Agbaje, another farmer from Adavi Local Government Area, identified erratic rainfall, flooding and insecurity as key challenges facing farmers.
He said Kogi’s location at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue made it particularly prone to flooding.
Agbaje urged farmers to adopt climate-smart practices such as drought-resistant crops and water conservation techniques, while calling on government to invest in irrigation and rural infrastructure.
Mr Abdullahi Mamood, a vegetable farmer, lamented poor access to markets and modern equipment, saying the situation had reduced farmers’ profits.
He said the combination of bumper harvests, flooding and poor demand had led to price drops across major commodities.
Both Agbaje and Mamood appealed to governments at all levels to provide irrigation facilities, solar-powered pumps and credit schemes to support farmers.
They also called for better infrastructure and access to timely information to enhance productivity.
NAN