Bumper yields drive down prices as farmers warn of losses, urging government intervention to stabilise markets.
Sokoto: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara — Farmers across Nigeria’s North‑West are sounding the alarm over a bumper harvest that, while ordinarily a blessing, now threatens to become a burden.
With markets flooded and prices tumbling, they are urging the Federal Government to provide emergency funds to mop up excess produce, warning that without intervention, the glut could trigger devastating losses and discourage future production.
Farmers Raise Concerns over Surplus
Speaking in Sokoto, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, Chairman of the Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, explained that buying excess harvests from farmers would stabilise commodity prices and prevent the collapse of livelihoods.
“Buying excess from farmers after a bumper harvest will reduce the avoidable lowering of produce prices in the market, thereby encouraging farmers to remain in the farming business,” he said.
Maitasamu, who also serves as President of the Cooperatives Federation, stressed that government intervention through strategic reserves would not only stabilise prices but also encourage reinvestment in agriculture.
He warned that many farmers are currently afraid to reinvest because of low prices, describing the situation as “worrisome and dangerous to the nation.”
Commendations and Pleas for Support
While commending federal and state governments for distributing subsidised seedlings, fertilisers, chemicals, and farm tools, Maitasamu pleaded for sustained support.
He noted that Sokoto’s provision of 250 tractors would boost both dry‑ and rainy‑season farming, with garlic, onion, chilli pepper, and other vegetables expected to flourish.
Alhaji Kabiru Hassan‑Dange, Chairman of the Cotton Farmers’ Association in Sokoto, added his voice, calling for the reactivation of agricultural processing industries to absorb produce and discourage importation that undermines local farmers.
Losses Despite Falling Prices
In Gusau, Zamfara State, Sarkin Norman Mayanchi, Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim, acknowledged that food prices had declined but lamented that farmers were still running at a loss due to high labour and input costs. He urged the government to reintroduce the Commodity Marketing Board to stabilise the sector.
Dr Mustapha Kanoma, Head of Economics at Federal University Gusau, linked the drop in food prices to the presidential directive on food importation. While citizens benefit from cheaper food, he cautioned that Nigeria needs a homegrown policy to sustain food security.
Price Drops in Kebbi Markets
In Kebbi State, surveys revealed sharp declines in staple food prices. For instance, a 100kg bag of maise fell from ₦50,000 to ₦40,000; millet dropped from ₦60,000 to ₦40,000; guinea corn from ₦60,000 to ₦40,000; and rice from ₦50,000 to ₦30,000. Groundnuts, sesame, and beans also recorded significant reductions.
Traders like Malam Aliya Jelani noted that new harvests naturally ease demand pressures, though sustaining lower prices remains a challenge. Others, like Malam Nuhu Kardi, warned that without government monitoring, traders could hike prices again.
Malam Bello Ibrahim of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, cautioned that the current trend may be seasonal unless backed by structural reforms.
He urged government investment in storage facilities, regulation of transport costs, prevention of hoarding, and stronger market monitoring.
He also called for improved access to credit for small‑scale farmers and stabilisation of fuel prices to ease distribution costs.
The Bigger Picture
Across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, the message is clear: bumper harvests alone do not guarantee prosperity. Without emergency funds, storage infrastructure, and policy reforms, farmers risk being trapped in cycles of loss despite abundant yields.
Their collective plea underscores a broader challenge for Nigeria — balancing immediate relief with long‑term strategies to secure food production, stabilise markets, and protect livelihoods.