The reported drop in food prices across Nigeria may sound like good news to struggling citizens, but behind the lower costs lies a troubling reality for local farmers, the very people who feed the nation.
Development Diaries reports that findings from Daily Trust reveal that farmers and the federal government have disagreed over the recent drop in prices of food items across the country.
According to a recent Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Nigeria’s agricultural sector recorded steady growth during the 2025 wet season, with increased production across major food crops and a general decline in market prices.
While the government attributes the drop to increased domestic production, many farmers argue that the massive importation of food items such as rice, maize, sorghum, and wheat has flooded the market and forced prices below production cost.
According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s food inflation rate remains among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by the rising cost of transportation, rent, and other essentials.
This means that even though market prices for some food items appear to have dropped, most households are not experiencing real relief, as the overall cost of living continues to climb.
According to the report by Daily Trust, farmers across states like Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, and Taraba have reported huge financial losses, some losing between N10 million and N27 million after harvest, and many say they may not return to farming next season.
This has direct consequences for food security: when producers lose confidence, production drops, and Nigeria risks becoming more dependent on imports.
This is particularly concerning in a country where over 70 percent of the rural population depends on agriculture for livelihood.
Beyond the numbers, it’s a human crisis, farmers who once fed entire communities are now unable to feed their own families.
Experts are warning that the situation could trigger a ripple effect on national productivity and rural stability. The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) has already sounded the alarm that farmers are ‘crying’ and abandoning farmlands due to poor returns and the high cost of inputs.
Fertiliser prices have jumped to between N50,000 and N80,000 per bag, while herbicides now cost N8,000–N10,000, a huge jump from previous years.
As food processors shut down and young people migrate to cities, this means Nigeria could face deeper food insecurity, rising unemployment, and rural poverty.
The federal government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, must urgently balance its import policies with protection for local producers.
Price stability is not just about making food cheaper; it is about ensuring that farmers can survive to plant again.
The ministry should introduce targeted interventions, including subsidies on fertiliser and inputs, guaranteed minimum price schemes, and access to low-interest credit, to prevent mass withdrawal from food production.
