Fuel Subsidy Removal, Insecurity Pose Threat To Food Security, Nigerian Farmers Say
Farmers have predicted tougher days ahead for Nigerians concerning the ongoing food inflation crisis in the country, blaming subsidy removal which increased the cost of transporting farm produce, and insecurity, which has continued to hinder farming as some of the reasons for the food crisis.
In recent times, Nigerians have been voicing their concerns over the hike in the prices of food which has caused so much uproar with the Nigeria Labour Congress making it a major argument for its demand for increased minimum wage.
Also, the National Human Rights Commission recently raised concerns over the rising food crisis in Nigeria, saying that it had worsened access to healthy and nutritious food, especially among Internally Displaced Persons and vulnerable groups, leading to an increase in widespread hunger and low quality of life.
The commission also attributed the situation to several factors, including “insecurity chasing farmers from their farms, coupled with many farmlands submerged in water due to flooding in some parts of the county.”
In solidarity, the Federal Government expressed concern over the continuous rise in the prices of food and other commodities, which has resulted in protests in Niger and Kano states.
In 2024, Northern traditional rulers and the Nigerian Bar Association decried the hardship in the country, which was said to be precipitated by the fuel subsidy removal and had resulted in higher transport costs and food inflation.
The National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, said tougher days were ahead for Nigerians concerning the food crisis.
He however cautioned the Federal Government against the knee-jack reaction of opening the borders and flooding the market with imported foods, warning that such a decision could erode the little gains recorded in the agricultural sector.
Ibrahim also explained that the hikes in prices of farm produce such as tomato, pepper, and yam may not be unconnected with the seasonal variations, noting that the prices of some food items usually went up around this period.
He said in November through January, February, and even March, “you’ll find very good prices, but don’t forget the challenges of the exchange rate of the naira. That is also happening. Don’t also discount the cost of transporting the produce. All these farmers will have to factor in selling to the middlemen, and the middlemen also buy to make profits. Those are some of the reasons.”
He also noted that while insecurity remained a fundamental issue preventing farmers from ensuring food security, other issues including the high exchange rate must be addressed to curb the ongoing crisis.
He stressed that a major factor in the ongoing crisis was the cost of food and not scarcity. “The question is affordability. It is available but not affordable. Therefore, with the high cost, there is no food security. Food security means you should be able to afford food within reasonable limits,” he said.