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Food Scarcity Looms As Farmers Exchange Crops For Forex

The average cost of basic food items in Nigeria may reach an unprecedented level of price surge in the coming months, exacerbating the already challenging economic conditions, fresh findings by The PUNCH on Tuesday indicated.

This projection is based on the decision by farmers in the northern part of the country to export their bumper harvest to neighbouring countries in exchange for foreign currency while neglecting local demand as the dry season approaches.

While farmers in Kaduna and Kwara states complained of poor harvests caused by prolonged droughts and diversion of farm inputs by politicians, their counterparts in Jigawa, Kano, and Yobe confirmed the bumper harvest of crops, including millet, sorghum, beans, and maize.

They, however, highlighted that a significant portion of these produce were being exported to countries, including Niger Republic, Cameroun, Chad, Ghana and even as far as Asia and Europe for higher revenue.

The price of food, a major driver of Nigeria’s headline inflation that pegged at 34.60 per cent in November 2024, has been a recurring issue with the government failing in several attempts to adequately feed the nation.

Food inflation has also seen a sharp rise, reaching 39.93 per cent in November 2024, up from 32.84 per cent in the same period, making it difficult for many households in the country to afford daily meals.

Despite the obvious challenge posed by rising inflation, farmers have decided to export their food produce, thereby depleting their food reserves for foreign currencies, even as they face the looming threat of the upcoming dry season.

This development, which puts food security at a threshold, highlights the pressing economic pressures citizens battle, as they balance immediate financial gains with the long-term sustainability of their resources.

Speaking in separate interviews with our correspondents, the farmers said food security must remain a top priority for the government.

A farmer in Damaturu, Mallam Abbati Malari, attributed the recent bumper harvest to adequate rainfall and its distribution, which prevented diseases and pest activities.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Malari noted that the harvest was not as a result of government reforms.

“The scarcity and high cost of food items have encouraged more people to venture into farming,” he explained.

“However, the government should acknowledge the long-standing presence of agricultural produce hoarders in the value chain, which has been ongoing for decades.”

Abbati also highlighted that grains like millet, sorghum, beans, and maize were consistently exported to Niger from states neighbouring the Niger Republic.

He emphasised that the government’s policy of devaluing the Naira has increased merchants’ purchasing power due to the significant gap between the CFA Franc and Naira values.

Similarly, Jigawa State farmers confirmed the bumper harvests in the region, but many of them said they choose to export their produce rather than sell locally.

In exclusive interviews with The PUNCH, some of the farmers shared varied views on the development.

Idris Maiunguwa, a farmer in Dutse, said, “There is high yield in rice, sesame, millet, among others across the state.”

Malam Muhammad Inuwa, a rice farmer from Hadejia Local Government Area added, “I harvested over 100 bags of rice per hectare, which is a significant increase from previous years.”

He attributed the success to the state government’s intervention in providing farm inputs and extension services.

However, many farmers are opting to export their produce due to the attractive prices offered by international buyers.

A sesame seed farmer from Dutse Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar, said, “Our farmers are getting better prices for our sesame seeds from buyers in Asia and Europe. It’s more profitable for us to export than to sell locally.”

However, the Kano State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria accused some middlemen who come from the southern part of the country to purchase grains from farmers in the north as the promoters of local food export to other African countries.

The State AFAN chairman, Abdulrashid Magaji, made the complaint in a phone interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

“Most of those who engaged in exporting grains to outside Nigeria are middlemen from the southern part of the country. They come here (north) and purchase the commodities from our farmers.

“After buying the commodities and storing them in a warehouse, they now export them to neighbouring African countries like Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Ghana to maximise profits,” he said.

Magaji, who confirmed the bumper harvest this year, said the middlemen preferred to take the grains outside Nigeria because of the value of their currencies.

“Even CFA Franc (the currency used by the francophone countries) is stronger than our Naira, hence the reason why such middlemen export the grains to maximise profits,” the AFAN chairman said.

When contacted, the Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Jigawa State, Sale Salisu, expressed concerns over the trend.

Salisu said “We are calling on farmers to sell their produce locally to support the country’s food security and sufficiency drive. We are working on strategies to make local sales more attractive to farmers.”

According to him, the Federal Government has committed money to subsidise inputs for farmers in Jigawa State.

“We want to see a return on this investment by having farmers sell their produce locally. We are exploring options to make this happen.”

Salisu stated that the Federal Government was working on policies to encourage local sales, including providing incentives for farmers who sell their produce locally.

“I believe the Nigerian Export Promotion Council has also been working to promote non-oil exports in Jigawa State, including agricultural produce. The council has engaged with farmers, exporters and other stakeholders to identify opportunities and challenges in the export value chain.”

Also speaking, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Muttaka Namadi, stated, “The state’s agricultural policy aims to make Jigawa a major hub for agricultural production and export in Nigeria.”

 

 

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