By Atoyebi Nike
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors, and Marketing Cooperative have challenged the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security’s claim that rising local production is responsible for the recent decline in food prices.
Both groups warned that the price relief may be temporary unless the Federal Government provides meaningful support to farmers facing mounting costs and structural challenges.
AFAN President Kabir Ibrahim acknowledged the current drop in prices but said multiple factors, including seasonal harvest cycles, last year’s zero-tariff food imports, and weakened consumer purchasing power are responsible for the trend.
He cautioned that these conditions do not guarantee sustained lower prices unless farmers receive targeted support to remain in production.
AFAN urged the government to declare a “state of emergency” on input costs such as fertilizer, chemicals, and labour noting that farmers’ expenses continue to rise despite improved yields. The group also called for the introduction of a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) to stabilize incomes and prevent production declines.
Ibrahim added that while youth participation in farming and output levels have increased, farmers still struggle with inflation when buying goods they do not produce themselves.
Similarly, President of the cashew farmers’ apex body, Yunusa Enemali, dismissed the minister’s position as disconnected from the realities faced by growers.
Enemali said farmers often produce merely to repay loans, not because of strong incentives, and are frequently compelled to sell at low prices due to inadequate storage facilities and poor infrastructure.
He criticized market instability and the absence of regulatory oversight, arguing that middlemen continue to exploit farmers during peak harvests.
Enemali also questioned whether policymakers fully understand the economics of farming, citing repeated price crashes in tomatoes, rice, and other staples.
He stressed that the government should not claim credit for the temporary drop in food prices while persistent challenges, including transport difficulties and infrastructure gaps remain unaddressed.
