Import Policy Sparks Crisis As Rice Farmers Count Heavy Losses

NO fewer than 3,500 rice farmers in major producing states may quit cultivation following losses estimated at over ₦93 billion, an agriculture stakeholder has warned.

Mr. Fatai Afolabi, a prominent member of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON) and sustainability consultant, disclosed this in Lagos during discussions on Nigeria’s food strategy and recent market adjustments.

He said the crisis stems from a sharp drop in produce prices following the Federal Government’s temporary relaxation of restrictions on certain food imports. While the move has helped moderate food prices for consumers, Afolabi said it has left local farmers vulnerable.

According to him, many rice farmers had committed significant capital to cultivation but are now confronted with cheaper alternatives in the market. He noted that although output prices have declined, input costs remain elevated.

Farmers, he said, continue to grapple with expensive fertilisers, high fuel and logistics costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to credit and poor infrastructure. The mismatch between falling selling prices and high production costs has pushed many into financial distress.

Afolabi warned that sustained losses could discourage investment in rice farming and undermine Nigeria’s quest for sustainable food security.

He also pointed to a similar trend in the cassava sector, where tubers in some areas are reportedly selling at prices barely covering harvesting expenses. In extreme cases, produce is left unharvested due to prohibitive transport costs.

He urged policymakers to ensure that measures aimed at easing consumer hardship do not weaken domestic producers whose activities underpin the nation’s food system.