Residents of Abia and Imo in the South-East zone have expressed deep concern over the rising cost of food items across the country.
in an interactive session with news men, citizens highlighted the harsh economic impact of the escalating food prices and discussed possible causes and solutions.
In Abia, the Acting Chairman of the Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Bonny Umeh, attributed the high cost of foodstuffs to the expensive nature of farming. “Farming is very expensive. To contribute to food security, farming must be on a large scale,” Umeh explained. He noted that the dense vegetation in the South-East, compared to the North or Middle Belt, increases costs, as farmers need to spend between N5 million to N8 million just to clear land.
Umeh also pointed to the problematic land tenure system, which restricts access to land for agricultural purposes. He urged government agencies to support large-scale farming by providing agricultural equipment and modern methods, and to make rural roads motorable for easier transportation of produce. Additionally, Umeh called for credit facilities to support farmers, suggesting that institutions like the Bank of Industry offer low-interest loans to farmers.
Another farmer, Mr. Candy Ndubuisi, emphasized the need for proper training in contemporary farming methods and encouraged graduates of agriculture to pursue professional farming. He also advocated for government provision of farm inputs and storage mechanisms to preserve seasonal foods and reduce losses.
Chief Dunlop Okoro, the Southeast Coordinator of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, advised Nigerians to engage in subsistence farming to increase food production and availability in the market. He argued that subsistence farming could alleviate food shortages and contribute to food security.
In Imo, the National Secretary of the Rice Farmers Association, Mr. Livy Ngwangwa, stressed the importance of repaying agricultural loans to ensure the sustainability of government facilities. He lamented that many federal agricultural interventions failed due to non-repayment, which hindered the sector’s development. Ngwangwa also noted that the high cost of farm tools and equipment, coupled with a lack of government-provided inputs, exacerbates the issue of food inflation.
Mrs. Theresa Iwuji, a stockfish dealer in Owerri, pointed to the high exchange rate as a significant factor contributing to food price increases. She argued that unless the naira’s value improves, the situation will worsen, with a preference for imported goods further driving up costs.
Mr. Ashiru Suleiman, a trader in Owerri, highlighted security issues in the North, which lead to shortages of farm produce and consequent food inflation. He noted that border community farmers often prefer selling their goods across borders due to fewer security challenges. Suleiman also mentioned that transportation costs from production points to markets contribute to higher food prices.
Economics teacher Mr. Emmanuel Eze emphasized the need for government action to curb inflation and support farmers to boost output, which would help reduce food prices and generate revenue. He also called for the revitalization of the nation’s refineries to stabilize the economy by ending fuel importation.
