Residents of Imo and Abia states have voiced concern over the continuous increase in food prices attributing it largely to the rising cost of transportation.
Despite the ongoing harvest season, prices of farm produce and other food items continue to increase, creating financial strain for both consumers and farmers.
In Owerri, many residents pointed to the removal of the fuel subsidy as a major factor driving up transportation costs. “We pay heavily to transport produce from the farm to the market, and this has caused an increase in the prices of food items,” a resident lamented.
An economist, Henry Acho further elaborated on the situation, describing how food prices are related to the rising cost of basic services.
According to Acho, “Farmers and food vendors depend on the gains made from their goods to pay for manufactured items and social services, so it is unlikely to expect them to sell at giveaway prices. Inflation is not limited to food items; education, healthcare, property, and other services have also experienced increase in prices.”
Ken Chukwuemeka, a senior official in Imo State’s Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted ongoing government efforts to mitigate the effects of inflation on citizens.
He noted that the state had recently provided palliatives and inputs to farmers as part of its intervention measures.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Harsco Media and Communication, Harriet Ijeomah, stressed the need for federal government intervention.
She called for initiatives to empower southern farmers to enhance productivity and encourage healthy competition with their northern counterparts.
Ijeomah suggested that increased grants and support for farmers could help them address challenges such as climate change, which is currently undermining food production.
In Abia State, stakeholders in agriculture also raised concerns about the factors driving food price increases. They cited inflation, high transport costs, and low farm yields as primary reasons for the food inflation.
Monica Ironkwe, a member of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and a former Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, pointed out that the devaluation of the naira, rural-urban migration, and the high cost of production contributes to the situation.
Ironkwe added that the declining number of active farmers has made it increasingly difficult to meet the nation’s growing food demands.
She stressed the importance of transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture as a solution to the crisis.
Additionally, she proposed introducing ‘Practical Agriculture’ as a compulsory subject in university curricula, noting its importance in addressing food insecurity in Nigeria.
Bright Agomoh, a trader who buys directly from farmers in the north, explained that the high cost of transportation as well as insecurity in the region has added to the food crises.
He pointed out that prices of staples like beans, potatoes, and onions have increased, putting pressure on both traders and buyers.
Agomoh also accused some farmers and sellers of taking advantage of the situation to inflate prices, calling it an unfair practice that worsens the struggles of consumers.
He appealed to the federal government to lower fuel prices, arguing that reduced transportation costs would lead to lower food prices. He also called for stronger measures against insecurity, emphasizing the need for farmers to feel safe returning to their farms.
Ezinne Okoye, a rice farmer in Abia’s Uzuakoli community, attributed the rising prices to the soaring cost of production. She explained that farmers are struggling with inflation and the high cost of inputs, adding that unless the government intervenes by reducing petrol prices or subsidizing farming inputs, the situation will likely worsen during the festive season.
Climate change is another critical factor affecting food production. Chidozie Kanu, a climate change expert with the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project, emphasized that irregular rainfall patterns have disrupted farming schedules.
According to Kanu, LIFE-ND is training farmers in 100 communities to adapt to these challenges by adopting improved agricultural practices for crops like rice, cassava, and oil palm.
Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Cliff Agbaeze, identified insecurity, climate change, and economic shocks as the major factors contributing to food insecurity.
Agbaeze reiterated the importance of addressing these factors to stabilize food prices and improve production levels.