Farmers, traders: Why food prices reduced in market

Some farmers and traders of various food items have attributed the downward slope in the prices of food to the current harvest season for early crops.

Some of them, who spoke in Abuja on Sunday, August 18, 2024, said the reduction was also a result of the sufficient rainfall which had enabled bumper harvests.

The National Secretary of the National Fish Association of Nigeria (NFAN), Chidike Ukoh, said although the prices of some food items were reducing, the purchasing power of most people was still low.

Also speaking, the National President of the Nigeria Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Lizzy Igbine, stated that the drop in prices of food was due to farmers’ harvest season.

Igbine said: “Now, we are harvesting our crops and the prices will naturally come down.

“We have new potatoes, onions, and yams in the market now and their prices have come down.”

She, however, appealed to the federal government to ensure the prompt release of farm inputs to farmers for improved production.

A yam seller at the Nyanya market, Babangida Yakubu, stated that although the prices of some food items had reduced, the patronage was still low.

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Yakubu appealed to governments at all levels to pay the new minimum wage so that many of his customers, especially civil servants would be able to patronise him.

He said: My customers usually shout ‘no money’ when I call them to come and buy.

“Government and private sector should increase salaries so that people will be able to buy what they need.”

A customer, Nkechi Aboh, commended the efforts of the government and farmers, which she said contributed to the reduction in prices of food.

Aboh said although the prices of some food items were still high, they were more affordable now when compared to a month ago.

Aboh said a small basket of tomatoes which was sold between N15,000 and N18,000 now goes for between N2,500 and N3,500.

Meanwhile, NAN checks in some markets in Abuja and environs revealed that prices of food items, including yams, pepper, and potatoes had reduced.

Prices of items like garri, rice, onions, maize, millet, and beans were still high.

Five tubers of yam which were sold between N25,000 and N28,000 now go for between N15,000, while a small basket of pepper initially sold between N15,000 and N10,000 now goes for between N6,000 and N5,500.

The Star