The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One says the federal government plans to mop up “excess” food in circulation.

ATASP-1, an initiative funded by the African Development Bank and supported by the federal government, aims to enhance agricultural productivity and value chain development across the country.

Romanus Egba, zonal programme coordinator, ATASP-1, Adani-Omor Zone, said in Enugu on Tuesday that there was no cause for alarm over possible post-harvest losses.

Mr Egba noted that the federal government had strategic food reserves and was purchasing food from farmers, storing it for preservation, and releasing it during periods of scarcity.

He attributed the recent decline in food prices in the country to a combination of specific factors.

According to him, following the 2023 food crisis, many people rushed into food production in 2024, leading to a substantial increase in the quantity of food available on the market this year, unlike in previous years.

”Secondly, the decision of the federal government to open our border and allow imported foodstuffs to compete with locally produced ones also contributed significantly to the crash in price of foodstuffs.

“The consequence now is that most farmers are adversely affected by this development, as many of them can no longer recover the cost of production,” he said.

Regarding insecurity in agricultural production areas in Enugu, Mr Egba stated that ATASP-1 believed the state government had made significant efforts to address the challenge.

”I will use Adani, where ATASP-1 last year completed the rehabilitation of the Ada Rice Irrigation System to pave the way for dry season rice farming, which could not hold then because of security challenges. The state government has been able to post Navy personnel to flashpoints inside the irrigation farm command area, thereby allowing farmers to return to their farms.

”Local vigilante operatives are also collaborating with the military to enhance security in the areas. ATASP-1 was also able to complete its projects because of our excellent working relationship with these security operatives, especially the local vigilante operatives,” he added.

(NAN)