For the first time since the gasoline subsidy was eliminated in 2023, the cost of staple food crops has decreased dramatically in several areas of the Northeast.
According to a recent poll conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the states of Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno, where food costs have historically been high, saw the biggest drops in food prices.
Significant drops in the cost of beans, rice, guinea corn, and maize were noted in the survey. For example, a 100kg bag of maize in Jimeta Market, Adamawa, used to sell for ₦60,000 to ₦65,000 between October and November 2024, but it is currently only worth ₦40,000 to ₦45,000.
A 100kg bag of local rice, which used to cost between ₦60,000 and ₦65,000, is now selling for ₦45,000 in the same market, while a 100kg bag of beans has drastically decreased in price from ₦190,000 in 2024 to ₦95,000.
Increasing Prices for Other Products
Some items have suffered price hikes, even as the cost of food crops have generally decreased. The cost of 100 pieces of yam at Ganye Yam Market in Adamawa has increased from ₦70,000 to ₦80,000 to over ₦200,000. Depending on size, individual tubers now sell for ₦2,000 to ₦2,500.
The cost of livestock has also increased throughout the region. Over the last three years, the cost of cattle has gone up dramatically in Ngurore and Mubi. Once selling for between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000, a cow now costs between ₦400,000 and ₦700,000, with some even exceeding ₦1 million.
Yobe and Borno Price Drops
The cost of food has also decreased in Yobe State. Previously valued between ₦57,000 and ₦60,000, a 100kg bag of uncooked local rice is currently selling for between ₦40,000 and ₦43,000. Millet went from ₦60,000 to ₦46,000, and beans went from ₦105,000 to ₦85,000. Price reductions have also been observed for other commodities, such as pepper and groundnuts.
While foreign rice prices in Borno State have reduced from ₦97,000 to ₦70,000, local rice prices have dropped from ₦80,000 to ₦65,000 to ₦64,000. The price of a bag of maize has increased from ₦55,000 to ₦38,000.
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A 100kg bag of beans currently costs ₦100,000 (down from ₦180,000), while a single yam tuber costs ₦2,500 to ₦3,000. Despite this, the cost of beans and yams in Borno is still exorbitant.
Factors Affecting the Price Decline
One of the main causes of the drop in food prices is the decline in purchases by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly since USAID’s humanitarian assistance was cut off. As a result, demand has decreased, which has impacted prices.
“NGOs used to purchase food in bulk for areas hit by insurgencies, which increased demand. Prices have now changed as a result of fewer purchases, according to public affairs analyst Lawan Mala.
Additionally, as more households adopt subsistence farming, growing food for their own consumption and selling excess commodities, prices are falling due to an increase in local production.
Government Regulations and Upcoming Issues
Adamawa’s Agriculture Commissioner, Prof. David Jatau, credits the state government’s initiatives to boost food production and increase food security for the price decline.
The state has started a number of projects under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, including as the Agricultural Programme for Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change Adaptation (APPACCA), which aims to boost output and guarantee food security.
The high price of agricultural inputs like fertilizer, however, continues to raise concerns as it may deter future agricultural investment.
Bean farmer Sadiq Abubakar said that the industry may lose money due to declining food prices and fertilizer costs of up to ₦50,000 per bag.
Due to the lower pricing, many locals are adjusting by buying food in bulk for storage, and many are turning to small-scale farming as a means of subsistence, according to Muhammad Maitela, a farmer and food dealer.
Modibbo Adama University’s Prof. Ahmad Bawa, an expert in economic development, praised the federal government’s food importation policies, especially those pertaining to rice and maize, and emphasized the significance of upholding them in order to ensure food security.
Bawa did, however, warn that if the situation is not controlled, market volatility may cause prices to increase once more.
If the proper authorities do not step in, prices can increase once more. He proposed that direct farmer-to-consumer markets be established in order to stabilize prices and lessen the involvement of intermediaries.
