₦airaland Forum

Many people are happy that food prices are coming down. On the surface, it looks like good news. But there is a serious danger most people are not talking about.

Cheaper food is good for consumers, but not always good for farmers
While buyers enjoy relief, many farmers are selling at a loss.

Cost of farming is still very high
Fertilizer, diesel, transport, labour, and insecurity are still expensive. Prices fell, costs did not.

Farmers are losing capital
Most Nigerian farmers use money from the last harvest to fund the next season. Losses now mean no money later.

Many farmers may not plant next season
When farmers cannot afford seeds, fertilizer, or labour, they reduce production or quit entirely.

This leads to future food shortages
Less planting today means less food tomorrow, which will push prices up again.

Nigeria has no strong price support system
There are no effective minimum price guarantees or working buffer stock programs to protect farmers.

Poor storage forces distress sales
Because farmers can’t store food, they rush to sell during harvest when prices are lowest.

Middlemen and traders also suffer losses
Oversupply and weak demand affect the entire value chain, not just farmers.

Price instability scares investors away
Serious investors avoid agriculture when prices swing wildly from profit to loss.

Low prices today can mean hunger tomorrow
If farmers collapse, Nigeria will depend more on imports and face worse food inflation later.

Bottom line:
The problem is not high prices or low prices. The real problem is unstable prices.
If Nigeria does not protect farmers now, today’s cheap food will become tomorrow’s food crisis.

In other countries, the government do buy produce off farmers to keep the prices high enough. The produce is then destroyed. They can do that because government have a lot of money from taxes. In Nigeria, farmers are left to their fate and it is often scarcity followed by plenty. Low prices followed by high prices season after season. That has been the culture or practice in the country for years. It is also the natural way things are done since time immemorial

So should we continue to have high prices? As it stands, prices are still quite high. But you have some good points. Who helps with storage facilities? This shouldn't be the job of the government but private sector. The farmers should be able to approach banks either individually or as groups and raise funds for such.

Or big corporations should go into agro industry too. And if the government is to be involved then that should be the state and local governments.
But cheap food is actually good for a poor country like Nigeria

Farmers better comport like them fuel marketers or they eat their produce themselves, what more do they want from FG after getting almost everything at subsidized prices.

You failed to mention that the recent removal of middlemen by the Governor of Lagos through direct transportation from source is the main catalyst for this sharp reduction, as a matter of fact the farmers are happy and relieved and they are also making profit, have you asked yourself why food items are always cheap when you travel to the village?

Farmers are currently suffering. Importation and terrorism are really dealing with farmers.

Lack of storage and processing facilities are the main issue.

TechToyin:
Many people are happy that food prices are coming down. On the surface, it looks like good news. But there is a serious danger most people are not talking about.

Cheaper food is good for consumers, but not always good for farmers
While buyers enjoy relief, many farmers are selling at a loss.

Cost of farming is still very high
Fertilizer, diesel, transport, labour, and insecurity are still expensive. Prices fell, costs did not.

Farmers are losing capital
Most Nigerian farmers use money from the last harvest to fund the next season. Losses now mean no money later.

Many farmers may not plant next season
When farmers cannot afford seeds, fertilizer, or labour, they reduce production or quit entirely.

This leads to future food shortages
Less planting today means less food tomorrow, which will push prices up again.

Nigeria has no strong price support system
There are no effective minimum price guarantees or working buffer stock programs to protect farmers.

Poor storage forces distress sales
Because farmers can’t store food, they rush to sell during harvest when prices are lowest.

Middlemen and traders also suffer losses
Oversupply and weak demand affect the entire value chain, not just farmers.

Price instability scares investors away
Serious investors avoid agriculture when prices swing wildly from profit to loss.

Low prices today can mean hunger tomorrow
If farmers collapse, Nigeria will depend more on imports and face worse food inflation later.

Bottom line:
The problem is not high prices or low prices. The real problem is unstable prices.
If Nigeria does not protect farmers now, today’s cheap food will become tomorrow’s food crisis.

You made some point but I don't agree with you completely. The market is regulating itself, hence the policies by this government. I expect a forward decrease in prices of market produce especially with the importation of certain stable food to regulate the market. Some farmers are greedy, and they will pay the price.

zoghys:
You made some point but I don't agree with you completely. The market is regulating itself, hence the policies by this government. I expect a forward decrease in prices of market produce especially with the importation of certain stable food to regulate the market. Some farmers are greedy, and they will pay the price.

Do you know what it means for garri to fall from 1200 to 400 to 500?. It is not easy for the farmers o. Government can also help by finding more use for cassava as this will increase the demand and keep up the price

lawani:
Do you know what it means for garri to fall from 1200 to 400 to 500?. It is not easy for the farmers o. Government can also help by finding more uses for cassava as this will increase the demand and keep up the price

Yes, because many people are now planting plantain and cassava in Southern Nigeria, and the climate and weather conditions have been favourable to agriculture throughout the last year.

When there are improved seedlings and a favourable climate, we have bountiful harvests with the same input at no extra cost.

People dey vex say food price dey reduce again?

lawani:
Do you know what it means for garri to fall from 1200 to 400 to 500?. It is not easy for the farmers o. Government can also help by finding more use for cassava as this will increase the demand and keep up the price

Garri use to be around 600 naira before the subsidy removal. The effect you're seeing is a policy that's is working, and that doesn't mean am a fan of Tinubu or his party. The level of insecurity is alarmingly high, and if they can get it right on that aspect, then we're heading for El dorado.

Flangelo12:
People dey vex say food price dey reduce again?

It's like you don't know how wicked Nigerians are.

Subsistence farming is one of the reasons food prices dropped. Many people went into small scale farming in 2025, especially here in the south. If the trend continues this year, food prices will even drop further.
You know how many tubers of yams people dey raise from cement bags? Some backyard dey run 300 to 400.
Same with cocoyams, potatoes, tomatoes, vegetables, corn and cassava. People are now growing them very well in the neighborhood. The hunger caused by Tinubu's policies has reset the brain of many people.

Wetin dem go do for una for this life bikonu?

TechToyin:
Many people are happy that food prices are coming down. On the surface, it looks like good news. But there is a serious danger most people are not talking about.

Cheaper food is good for consumers, but not always good for farmers
While buyers enjoy relief, many farmers are selling at a loss.

Cost of farming is still very high
Fertilizer, diesel, transport, labour, and insecurity are still expensive. Prices fell, costs did not.

Farmers are losing capital
Most Nigerian farmers use money from the last harvest to fund the next season. Losses now mean no money later.

Many farmers may not plant next season
When farmers cannot afford seeds, fertilizer, or labour, they reduce production or quit entirely.

This leads to future food shortages
Less planting today means less food tomorrow, which will push prices up again.

Nigeria has no strong price support system
There are no effective minimum price guarantees or working buffer stock programs to protect farmers.

Poor storage forces distress sales
Because farmers can’t store food, they rush to sell during harvest when prices are lowest.

Middlemen and traders also suffer losses
Oversupply and weak demand affect the entire value chain, not just farmers.

Price instability scares investors away
Serious investors avoid agriculture when prices swing wildly from profit to loss.

Low prices today can mean hunger tomorrow
If farmers collapse, Nigeria will depend more on imports and face worse food inflation later.

Bottom line:
The problem is not high prices or low prices. The real problem is unstable prices.
If Nigeria does not protect farmers now, today’s cheap food will become tomorrow’s food crisis.

A lot of what you wrote makes a lot of sense.

The solution is simple: rapid economic growth and lifting the protective wall that prevent imported food from entering in.

Rapid economic growth would create job opportunities for those leaving the farms into the labor force.

Low import duty on food will make food cheap. This would create cheaper alternatives for consumers.

The government should encourage the production of cash crops by farmers. This won't suffer much from imported foods.

The Nigerian government should remove embargo on food importation, the food price will drop more, yes farmers will complain about poor patronage in their farm produce, but the masses will benefit more, let the Nigerian farmer compete, they will succeed, just like our afro music is competing in world stage.

grandstar:
A lot of what you wrote makes a lot of sense.

The solution is simple: rapid economic growth and lifting the protective wall that prevent imported food from entering in.

Rapid economic growth would create job opportunities for those leaving the farms into the labor force.

Low import duty on food will make food cheap. This would create cheaper alternatives for consumers.

The government should encourage the production of cash crops by farmers. This won't suffer much from imported foods.

It’s economic suicide to restrict imports on goods where you’ve no comparative advantage. That’s one of the many ridiculous policies the Nigerians have ignorantly embraced because it’s popular. If the cost of producing garri or rice is cheaper in China than Nigeria—then Nigeria should focus on producing something else, not where its producers can compete; otherwise, we are one economic policy away from wasting the gains of the recent reforms. It’s the same thinking that makes people parrot restricting fuel imports because of Dangote’s local production, which will only lead to more poverty for the final consumer in the long run. They should keep markets open and competitive; focus production on areas we can make compete and make massive gains. Eg Nigeria has massive advantage with BPO processing with our youthful English speaking population.

delzbaba:
You failed to mention that the recent removal of middlemen by the Governor of Lagos through direct transportation from source is the main catalyst for this sharp reduction, as a matter of fact the farmers are happy and relieved and they are also making profit, have you asked yourself why food items are always cheap when you travel to the village?

Very true.. the LASG has been doing fantastic in food logistics to markets

Even me I'm going to farm this year, salary work don tire me..... Nah my capital I dey gather like this

delzbaba:
You failed to mention that the recent removal of middlemen by the Governor of Lagos through direct transportation from source is the main catalyst for this sharp reduction, as a matter of fact the farmers are happy and relieved and they are also making profit, have you asked yourself why food items are always cheap when you travel to the village?

They are not happy o. I was talking to one that I do buy some village market from. Nigga said it's affecting them seriously. No dey talk Wetin you no know. Which farmer told you that they are happy?

You people are ment when the Food price go up tears everywhere food still dey partially down una still dey cry....


I be farmer I don take my L in peace...

So far what I'm earning from my produce can get me other produce I'm buying I'm good....


I don't even plant Cassava but due to how Garri was going up I risked and try Cassava 2024 cashout I saw the sign and didn't even try it in 2025..

Make everybody take there L in peace we sold sweet potato a bag 30k 2024 na 5k per bag from September last year to December....

delzbaba:
You failed to mention that the recent removal of middlemen by the Governor of Lagos through direct transportation from source is the main catalyst for this sharp reduction, as a matter of fact the farmers are happy and relieved and they are also making profit, have you asked yourself why food items are always cheap when you travel to the village?

Why pls. I want to knw plss

TechToyin:
Many people are happy that food prices are coming down. On the surface, it looks like good news. But there is a serious danger most people are not talking about.

Cheaper food is good for consumers, but not always good for farmers
While buyers enjoy relief, many farmers are selling at a loss.

Cost of farming is still very high
Fertilizer, diesel, transport, labour, and insecurity are still expensive. Prices fell, costs did not.

Farmers are losing capital
Most Nigerian farmers use money from the last harvest to fund the next season. Losses now mean no money later.

Many farmers may not plant next season
When farmers cannot afford seeds, fertilizer, or labour, they reduce production or quit entirely.

This leads to future food shortages
Less planting today means less food tomorrow, which will push prices up again.

Nigeria has no strong price support system
There are no effective minimum price guarantees or working buffer stock programs to protect farmers.

Poor storage forces distress sales
Because farmers can’t store food, they rush to sell during harvest when prices are lowest.

Middlemen and traders also suffer losses
Oversupply and weak demand affect the entire value chain, not just farmers.

Price instability scares investors away
Serious investors avoid agriculture when prices swing wildly from profit to loss.

Low prices today can mean hunger tomorrow
If farmers collapse, Nigeria will depend more on imports and face worse food inflation later.

Bottom line:
The problem is not high prices or low prices. The real problem is unstable prices.
If Nigeria does not protect farmers now, today’s cheap food will become tomorrow’s food crisis.

after writing all these and trying to protect the farmers interest. Can you explain why a bag of beans was sold for 240k 2 years ago and now its 45k? The farmers are wicked people and i pray the price falls further. In most countries food are always cheap. I dont know why our own will be different

Audio falling food prices.
Be deceiving yourselves.

richiemcgold:
Subsistence farming is one of the reasons food items dropped in prices. Many people went into small scale farming in 2025, especially here in the south. If the trend continues this year, food prices will even drop further.

very true. My mum sister husband plant everything in there garden last year... From yam to sweet potato, to cassava to sweet corn... Since then have been going to him to learn how to plant yam in sack. Planting own food really help alot.

Food expensive... wahala, food prices fall .. another Kahala. U can't please all the people all the time.

delzbaba:
You failed to mention that the recent removal of middlemen by the Governor of Lagos through direct transportation from source is the main catalyst for this sharp reduction, as a matter of fact the farmers are happy and relieved and they are also making profit, have you asked yourself why food items are always cheap when you travel to the village?

Good point.

Many of the things in the market today have too much inflated prices... The government is not even concerned with finding a way to make everything meet in a reasonable position.

Dem go say I don blame govt again but who suppose arrange all these kind things and make sure the ordinary common people behave themselves? Me? Where would an ordinary ancestor like us have the capability?

Abegi

I'm still looking around where food prices are coming down....

Abeg, how much is a bag of beans now?
Bag of rice...
Tuber of yam...
Bag of garri....
A gallon of groundnut & palm oils...

I know how much these things were before the 0loriburuku Teenubu took over from the mumu Bukhari....

TechToyin:
Many people are happy that food prices are coming down. On the surface, it looks like good news. But there is a serious danger most people are not talking about.

Cheaper food is good for consumers, but not always good for farmers
While buyers enjoy relief, many farmers are selling at a loss.

Cost of farming is still very high
Fertilizer, diesel, transport, labour, and insecurity are still expensive. Prices fell, costs did not.

Farmers are losing capital
Most Nigerian farmers use money from the last harvest to fund the next season. Losses now mean no money later.

Many farmers may not plant next season
When farmers cannot afford seeds, fertilizer, or labour, they reduce production or quit entirely.

This leads to future food shortages
Less planting today means less food tomorrow, which will push prices up again.

Nigeria has no strong price support system
There are no effective minimum price guarantees or working buffer stock programs to protect farmers.

Poor storage forces distress sales
Because farmers can’t store food, they rush to sell during harvest when prices are lowest.

Middlemen and traders also suffer losses
Oversupply and weak demand affect the entire value chain, not just farmers.

Price instability scares investors away
Serious investors avoid agriculture when prices swing wildly from profit to loss.

Low prices today can mean hunger tomorrow
If farmers collapse, Nigeria will depend more on imports and face worse food inflation later.

Bottom line:
The problem is not high prices or low prices. The real problem is unstable prices.
If Nigeria does not protect farmers now, today’s cheap food will become tomorrow’s food crisis.

This is a very woke perspective devoid of statistic and facts. The farmers created the prices increment themselves. It was not due to market forces. I live in the Northern part of Nigeria and I can tell you first hand how farmer, especially rice farmers, quadruple price of rice despite receiving government intervention and support funds under Buhari. They did same for other commodities.
If you're making advocacy, ensure it's the right thing your advocating for. Stop spreading nonsense

Subsistence farming for the win. I can't come and kill myself.