Some agricultural stakeholders have advocated price regulations and investments in agro-processing, storage, and preservation facilities to ensure food security and stability in foodstuff prices in the country.

The experts in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states gave the advice while reacting to the current reduction of foodstuff prices across the country in a survey.

A former Lead Researcher, Afri-Heritage Institute for Applied Economy and Governance in Enugu, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, said Nigeria must invest heavily in agro-processing, storage, and preservation facilities.

Mr Uba said that the country lost a substantial proportion of its harvest every year due to inadequate storage and poor processing capacities.

On what should be done to sustain crashes in food prices of food items, he urged the government to expand modern storage facilities, cold chains, and value-addition centres in key agricultural zones.

According to him, this will ensure that food items remain available throughout the year, thereby guaranteeing steady supply, stabilising prices, and supporting national food security.

He said that sustaining the availability of food items and consolidating the recent reduction in prices required deliberate and sustained support to farmers.

He stated, “Government and development partners must provide a full range of incentives, including improved seedlings, modern farm implements such as tractors and harvesting equipment, extension and business development services, and affordable access to credit. Equally important is the construction and rehabilitation of access roads that link farmlands to markets, thereby reducing transportation costs and post-harvest losses. Strengthening off-taker arrangements will also give farmers guaranteed buyers for their products, encourage higher production, and stabilise prices over time.’’

Mr Uba called on all levels of government to improve security across farming communities.

He said, “Many farmers have abandoned their lands due to insecurity, crop destruction by cattle, and persistent clashes between herders and farmers. Addressing these security challenges will not only encourage displaced farmers to return to their fields but also attract new entrants into agriculture. A safer environment will significantly boost production and reduce the disruptions that often lead to scarcity and price volatility.’’

A foodstuff seller at Garki Market, Helen Uzochukwu, urged the government to encourage and train the youths on the best and easy method of farming, especially in most of the farming communities in the country.

Prices of essential food items such as rice, beans, yam and cassava tubers, vegetables, among others, have crashed in Enugu markets.

The agency reports showed that a painter of rice sold at between N7,000 and N8, 000 in September now sells for between N6,500 and N4,800 at the different markets depending on the brand.

Also, one painter of beans which was sold for between N6,000 and N7,000 before is now sold at N5,500. A bunch of pumpkin leaves sold for between N1,800 and N2,000 in June now goes for N1,600.

Prices of rice have reduced by almost 50 per cent.

A 50kg bag of foreign rice is sold at between N80,000 and N95,000 depending on its brand as against its previous price that was sold for between N100,000 and N130,000 depending on the brand.

A food seller at Ogbete market, Amaka Ogbodo, said that the reduction in prices of some food items was significant as it had made it easier for average Nigerians to feed well.

She said that low-income earners and the poor would survive in the present economic situation.

Meanwhile, buyers and sellers are impressed that the reduction in price of staple foods have reduced hunger in many families in the country.

In Anambra State, prices of staple food items in major markets across the state have witnessed a notable decline in recent weeks, following the harvest season.

This development has brought relief to both traders and consumers, but experts warned that sustained efforts were necessary to maintain the downward trend.

A survey conducted at markets in Awka and Onitsha indicated that prices of key foodstuffs such as garri, tomatoes, onions, beans, rice and potatoes have dropped significantly.

For instance, the price of a bag of garri dropped from about N60,000 to between N35,000 and N40,000, while a basket of fresh tomatoes fell from N80,000 to between N40,000 and N45,000.

Similarly, the cost of a bag of local rice declined from N50,000 to N40,000, while a bag of foreign rice dropped from N80,000 to N70,000, depending on the brand.

Also, a bag of onions decreased from N110,000 to N80,000, potatoes from N13,000 to between N7,000 and N8,000 and a bag of beans, depending on the species, fell from N155,000 to between N135,000 and N120,000.

Traders attributed the price reductions primarily to the ongoing harvest season, which had increased the supply of agricultural produce.

A trader in Awka, Chinonye Aforka, said the drop in prices was because many foodstuffs were being harvested now.

“Supply is currently high, so prices have gone down. But as usual, with December and the dry season approaching, the prices of staple foods are likely to rise,” she said.

Another trader at Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Jude Okafor, said during an interview that farmers were bringing in more produce, which had led to a drop in prices compared to a few months ago.

“Every year around this time, prices usually reduce because farmers are harvesting. By January or February, when the dry season fully sets in, we may start seeing another increase,” he said.

Buyers have welcomed the relief, expressing hope that the trend will continue.

A consumer at Eke-Awka Market in Awka, Amaka Ikpeze, said she was happy to see prices of food items coming down.

According to her, it has made it easier to feed her family.

“I’m glad to see prices of food items becoming more affordable. It helps me put good meals on the table without stretching my budget,” she said.

A civil servant and consumer, Gerald Ochiudo, said “when prices fall, it gives him the opportunity to buy foodstuff in larger quantities”.

Mr Ochiudo however, urged the Federal Government to take seriously its moves to regulate prices of food in the country.

“Very soon, traders will claim that the Christmas season has begun and start increasing the prices of commodities. But if there is price regulation, such actions can be curtailed to keep prices stable all year round,” he said.

An agricultural economist, Dr Nkechi Igwe, said the current, harvest-driven drop in food prices might be temporary, warning that costs could rebound once the harvest ends and storage or transportation challenges set in.

Ms Igwe cautioned that without sustained measures, food prices could rise again during the off-season.

She urged the federal, state and local governments to build adequate storage facilities to preserve surplus produce during the harvest period.

Ms Igwe also called on state governments to prioritise rural road construction to ease the movement of farm goods to urban markets.

“Government support through subsidised inputs such as seeds and fertilisers will boost production and help keep food prices low,” she added.

On her part, an agriculturist and Coordinator of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, Georgina Akunyuba, called for improved security for farmers.

“Persistent insecurity has forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands. The government should strengthen rural security across the country to ensure long-term food affordability for consumers,” she said.

In Ebonyi State, some economists also observed that the reduction in prices for staple foods such as rice, beans, maize and yam across the state was due to the ongoing harvest season.

They also attributed the decline in prices of foodstuffs to increased local production and government’s support programmes which have improved supply.

In a market survey conducted in Abakaliki, it showed a drop in the prices of staple foods.

A 50kg bag of Abakaliki Local rice cost between N 38, 000 and N40, 000 against N70, 000 depending on the brand while a foreign bag cost N93,000.

A paint bucket of the local rice cost N 4, 500 against N 8,000 sold previously while foreign rice cost N 8, 500.

Also, a paint bucket of beans dropped from N 8, 000 to N4, 000 and five tubers of yam cost between N 8, 000 and N10, 000 depending on sizes against N 16,000 and above.

Moreso, a paint bucket of garri has seen a noticeable decrease between N1,000 and N2,000 against N3,800 while a paint bucket size of maize cost N2,000 against N4, 000 sold a few months ago.

An economic expert, Stephen Nwaojiji, said that in spite of the reduction, foodstuffs price still fluctuated.

Mr Nwaojiji disclosed that the fluctuation could be caused by supply chain issues, climate change, and government policies.

The expert stated that a stable price of foodstuff could be achieved through price control, placing a ban on market unionism and eradication of double taxation.

“Galloping inflation reduces the purchasing power of consumers, especially those with fixed incomes which can lead to increased food insecurity,” Mr Nwaojiji said.

Another expert, Nkechi Azu, linked harvest and recent government efforts to the reduction of certain staple foods.

Ms Azu claimed that the relief was relative, as the overall cost of living remained a significant challenge due to other persistent economic factors like high transportation costs and inflation for non-food items.

She called on government authorities in charge of price regulation to help stabilize market prices to sustain the trend.

“Governments at all levels should create a storage facility, this will help. Governments should also determine or fix prices on goods and services to sustain the development. Authorities should ensure middlemen are eradicated in the chain of distribution, if we want to achieve price control,” Ms Azu said.

A civil servant and consumer, Dennis Usulor, said the allowable price could help essential goods and services, such as food, housing, and medicine, affordable for consumers, during periods of high inflation.

Mr Usulor sought government support to farmers and allowed border operations to promote importation as well as exportation of commodities.

He said, “In spite of these reductions, other items like crayfish, palm oil, stockfish among other foodstuffs are gradually rising, if not checked, might double especially during festive season.’’

A trader at the Abakaliki International Market, Irenus Agboeze, claimed that transportation costs, which have not dropped, continued to keep overall living expenses high.

(NAN)