One of the most generous phenomenon known through out human evolution is Mother Nature which includes sunlight, air, grass, tree, soil, rainfall all of which has been given to us freely as a nation.

The agricultural sector in Nigeria is indeed a great prospect for development amidst inflation and decline in GDP. There is a sharp decline in the economic fortune of our nation which is shown in the fall in living standards when compared to the good old days.

Minimum earning capacity and prices of staple food in Nigeria are at odds. As the prices of staple food in Nigeria constantly defies the laws of gravity as when prices go up, it never comes down but rather takes an upward surge. Feeding is an autonomous consumption and must be carried out irrespective of wage disparities. For a nuclear family in Nigeria; food expenses takes away the bulk of the family income. The recent Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown order to contain the spread of the virus has had it toll on family life, with minimal or non existent power supply.

The food stuffs pay the supreme prices as there is always frequent visits to the kitchen. Most worrisome is the fact that staple food in Nigeria are locally sourced and not imported but when a seller is asked for the cause of increase in food prices, there is always an excuse to give. It’s either the government, hike in transportation, poor weather conditions (climate change), insecurity and most recent Covid-19 outbreak.
Most of their claims are true, rainfall has not been constant, insecurity with cases of farmers – herders clashes, boko haram insurgents laced with banditry, frequent looting and destruction of crops which has remained unresolved has kept farmers off their farms for fear of being maimed or killed.

The federal government has never failed to express their resolve and commitment to ending the crises but it has not been effective. The diversification drive of the government seems to be gaining momentum but more needs to be done for this to be achieved; fixing of roads and rail way lines to connect cities and villages alike so as to nip the already existing economic and inter-sectoral disarticulation noticeable in most/all sectors of the economy.

Our agricultural produce rarely gets local or international attention, we produce in abundance only for it to run to waste in most cases. We are born consumers, we care little about refining our farm produce. Epileptic power supply too has not helped farmers likewise.

The government has constantly mentioned that Nigeria is self sufficient in rice production yet, rice is still the most expensive staple food in Nigeria with a 50kg bag costing as much as ₦24,000 - ₦30,000 in our local markets.

There seems to be minimal partnership between government and local producers of staple food in Nigeria. Bodies or price monitoring groups are not set up to review or fix prices or maybe they haven’t been too effective if there are any. Standardization of prices though might prove difficult going by different production location and circumstances, so price regulation looks more tenable.

On the flip-side, in 1990 when ₦9 was equivalent to $1, things were relatively cheap but the purchasing power of the naira has been on a downward spiral overtime.

Presently a dollar exchanges for ₦386. It gets even worse as the naira is often devalued. Few years ago with a ₦1000 one is sure of having a week’s meal but presently ₦10,000 may not stand the test of two local shops. With a minimum wage of ₦30,000 for workers, coupled with huge housing payments and rising food prices, it is a meager sum which makes it more like a starvation wage just to stay alive. The government should be kind enough to review the remuneration of workers based on present day realities.

The government has rolled out series of agricultural programmes like the anchors borrowers programme but with minimal results as it is often politicized and used as a racket for looting funds.

Instead a large scale food supply chain should be developed to avoid wastages, proper road networks should be made available, security must be guaranteed up to the villages and hinterlands, uncultivated lands should be put to use.

Farmers should not be the poorest in our society, it is unheard of, proper government/private partnership should be made so the movement from a petro-dollar economy which is subject to the whims and caprices of the global oil market becomes possible. We ought to be a super power in agriculture, but we have often played small for years when we ought to dominate.

The government must get their priorities right then everything will fall into place.

You've only mentioned the problems. What are the solutions for the common man in the rural area. For me, you've only shared the problem and no immediate possible solution to it.