Nigeria’s Food System Under Pressure As Reps Call For Farmer Protection & Price Control Measures
Lawmakers Sound Alarm Over Food Price Instability
THE House of Representatives has called for urgent federal intervention to stabilise food prices across Nigeria and introduce stronger support systems for farmers, warning that current market conditions are threatening agricultural sustainability and national food security.
The resolution followed a motion highlighting the widening gap between production costs and market prices, which has left many farmers operating at a loss despite high demand for food commodities.
Sharp Decline in Farm-Gate Prices Raises Concern
Lawmakers expressed concern over a persistent drop in the prices of staple crops such as rice, yam, cassava, and maize, despite rising production costs.
They noted that many farmers who invested heavily through loans and personal savings are now recording significant financial losses.
Key concerns raised include:
Rising Input Costs
Fertiliser, seeds, agrochemicals, fuel, and labour costs continue to increase, squeezing farmer margins.
Weak Storage and Distribution Systems
Poor post-harvest infrastructure forces farmers to sell quickly at low prices to avoid spoilage.
Market Imbalances
Oversupply in harvest seasons contrasts with poor linkage to stable off-takers.
Policy Gaps in Agricultural Value Chain
The House identified structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s agricultural system as a major driver of the crisis.
These include inadequate storage facilities, weak agro-processing capacity, and lack of structured price support mechanisms.
Without intervention, lawmakers warned the situation could discourage investment in farming and deepen rural poverty.
Proposed Government Interventions
Following unanimous adoption of the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to introduce urgent reforms, including:
- Structured off-take arrangements for farm produce
- Price stabilisation mechanisms for key commodities
- Expansion of strategic grain reserves
- Investment in agro-processing zones
- Stronger support for farmer income protection
They also mandated a parliamentary committee to investigate the root causes of persistent price crashes and report back for further legislative action.
Wider Food Security Implications
Lawmakers warned that if unchecked, the imbalance between high retail food prices and low farm-gate prices could:
- Discourage agricultural production
- Increase rural unemployment
- Heighten inflation pressures
- Worsen national food insecurity
The House described the situation as a structural paradox requiring coordinated policy correction.
