Various reasons, ranging from the high cost of transportation, increasing inability of farmers to go to farms due to insecurity, foreign exchange, climate change effects, multiple taxation, late release of budget allocation; and rising inflation, among others, have been fingered for the soaring prices of food items.
“WE don’t tell people about prices of tomatoes and pepper again because they may fluctuate at any time. Sometimes, we sell at a particular price in the morning and by noon or evening, the price changes.”
This was how Mrs Hannatu Ajiji, an official at the Tomatoes/pepper Market along Bauchi Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State, captured the surge in prices of foodstuffs in the country.
The trend is making it difficult for most Nigerians to feed as their purchasing power continues to dwindle.
Various reasons, ranging from the high cost of transportation, increasing inability of farmers to go to farms due to insecurity, foreign exchange, climate change effects, multiple taxation, late release of budget allocation; and rising inflation, among others, have been fingered for the soaring prices of food items.
Disturbed by the development, some experts, and leading lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have tasked governments on action to fight hunger and avert looming hunger riots.
Indeed, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to collaborate with state governments to address the current food insecurity in the nation through a mechanized agricultural revolution.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in its Selected Food Prices Watch (May 2024) disclosed that the average price of 1kg local rice stood at N1,608.89, indicating a rise of 189.79 per cent in price on a year-on-year basis from N555.18 recorded in May 2023 and a 14.98 per cent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N1,399.34 in April 2024.
The average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 219.05 per cent year-on-year from N629.75 in May 2023 to N2,009.23 in May 2024.
On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item increased by 44.77 per cent from N1,387.90 in April 2024.
The average price of 1kg of tomatoes rose by 196.92 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N498.34 in May 2023 to N 1,479.69 in May 2024. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 31.71 per cent from N1,123.41 in April 2024.
Furthermore, the average price of 1kg of white Garri rose by 200.12% on a year-on-year basis from N371.42 in May 2023 to N1,114.72 in May 2024, while there was an increase of 30.87% on a month-on-month basis.
Also, the average price of 1kg of Yam tuber increased by 189.20% on a year-on-year basis from N457.25 in May 2023 to N1,322.36 in May 2024. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 16.98% from N1,130.37 in April 2024.
The Benue State Chairman of the National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers, NAYFPM, Mr Dominic Osoh, blamed the rising prices of yam tubers on the high cost of transportation.
Osoh said, “The transportation fare we pay to move yam from the village to the market is not helping the situation. The amount we pay to move a pick-up load of yams from the villages to the city market has tripled because of the increase in the price of fuel which has also forced farmers and traders to increase the price of one tuber of yam.
“The rising prices of herbicides and pesticides have also contributed to the increase in prices of yam. We also have the issue of insecurity. The attack on rural farmers by armed herdsmen and bandits is affecting yam production because when farmers do not feel safe to go to the farm, the implication is a shortage or a drop in the quantity of yam produced, leading to high prices.”
Mr Bitrus Dacha, chairman of Muundip Yam Zone, Gidan Dabat in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau State, explained thus: “Yam is very costly because yam availability is at its last lap now and the new ones are not yet out and coupled with the harsh economy.
“A big tuber of yam goes for N5,000. Meanwhile, the smaller yam seed for planting is now N250. If you need a medium size, up to 100 pieces, it is N350,000 naira to N400,000 naira.”
A yam dealer at the Yandoya market, Gangare, Jos, Alhaji Isa Magaji, said yams are costly because “no yams are coming into the market. This is not the season for yams, and yams are perishable, so the stored yams that we sell have almost finished.
A trader in Dakwo Market, Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Federal Capital Territory, Ebube Linhard, said a measure of a plastic basket of tomatoes now sells for N20,000, against the previous price of N4,000, and pepper of the same measurement sells for N20,000 currently.
Linhard said: “The cost of a measurement for a plastic basket is now sold at N20,000, and pepper goes for N20,000. The big, weaved tomato basket is sold for N100,000.”
At Federal Old Secretariat Market in Area I, Garki, Abuja, a fruit and vegetable seller, Maria David, recalled how they used to buy and sell tomatoes and pepper before the prices of both commodities hit the roof.
“Before, we used to sell a measurement of tomatoes in plastic baskets (the type used for refuse collection in offices) for N5,000, but now we are selling it for N15,000, N20,000, and N25,000, depending on the grade of tomato.
“For the big basket of tomatoes, we sell for N70,000, N100,000, and N120,000, depending on the grade of tomato. While for small measurements in little bowls go for N1,000 and N2,000 respectively,” David said.
David continued: “The cost of transportation is very high and adversely contributes to the high cost of tomatoes and pepper. Insecurity also contributes greatly to the problem.
“We used to hire vehicles at N7,000 or N10,000 to convey our produce from Mararaba, Nasarawa State, and Zuba, a boundary town with Niger State to our market here in Area I, Garki Old Secretariat. Now we spend over N20,000.
At Kabusa Market in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, a measurement of a plastic basket goes for N14,000, while pepper with the same measure sells for N15,000. A bag of rice is sold at between N75,000 and N85,000, while yam is sold at N30,000 for 10 tubers of yam.
An official at the Tomatoes/pepper market along the Bauchi Ring Road, Jos, Plateau state, Hannatu Ajiji said: “We don’t tell people about prices of tomatoes and pepper again because they may fluctuate at any time. Sometimes we sell at a particular price in the morning and by noon or evening, the price changes.
“As one comes into the market, you buy at the selling price for that time. For instance, tomatoes have been selling for between N12,000, N13,000, and N15,000, but today, they are sold for N23,000 and N25,000. The price may be reduced or increased before the day ends.
“This is not our fault; we consider the expected quantity of the produce that will come into the market. Remember, the farmers are being challenged by insecurity, the high cost of chemicals, transportation, and other factors. If the cost of everything is high, tomatoes and peppers can not be cheap.”
Checks at Ramen Kura vegetables and yam market in Sokoto revealed that a tuber of yam which was sold for N1,300 is now sold for N5,000, which goes beyond the reach of an average salary earner.
A sack of dried pepper (tattasai) is now sold for N76,000 to N80,000, against its former price of N25,000 in January and February.