Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara Farmers Advocate Emergency Funds To Mop-up Excess Harvest

Farmers in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states have called on the Federal and state Governments to set aside dedicated emergency funds to uptake excess harvests of agriculture produce to prevent post-harvest loses.
Speaking in an interview with NAN in Sokoto, the Chairman, Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, said buying of excess harvest from farmers after bumper harvest would stabilise prices of commodities.
“Buying of excess from farmers after bumper harvest will reduce avoidable lowering of produce prices in the market, thereby encouraging farmers to remain in the farming business.
“Mopping of excess harvest will also allow appreciable market flow, ensure strategic reserves apart from ensuring stability of produce,” he noted.
Maitasamu, who is also the President of Cooperatives Federation explained that government could return back procured commodities from the storage facilities to the market when there was need which would further stabilise the prices.
”These will serve as one of the best ways to encourage more investment in agriculture in the country. Similar initiative is being practiced across the globe.
”At present, farmers are afraid to reinvestment because prices are too low, many farmers could not break equilibrium, a situation that is not only worrisome but dangerous to the nation,” Maitasamu said.
He, however, commended the federal and some state governments for distributing free and subsidised seedlings, fertilisers, chemicals, workings tools and other farm inputs to farmers as a way to address farmers’ challenges and encourage food security.
The chairman pleaded with governments to continue providing subsidised fertilisers and other farming inputs in order to sustain farming activities to complement the current low prices of commodities.
According to him, 250 tractors provided by Sokoto State Government will encourage both dry and rainy season farming, adding that garlic, onion, chilli pepper and other vegetables cultivation will soon spring up.
Alhaji Kabiru Hassan-Dange, the Chairman of Cotton Farmers’ Association in Sokoto state, called on government to prioritise reactivation of agricultural processing industries that would be buying the agricultural produce from the farmers.
Hassan-Dange also urged the federal government to discourage importation of agricultural produce which jeopardise local production and lower the prices of commodities.
In Gusau, Sarkin Norman Mayanchi, Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim, said the current decline in the prices of foodstuffs was quite appreciating, but farmers were running at lose due to high price of labour and farm implements.
He advised government to provide incentives such as fertilisers and other farm implement at subsidised rates to encourage farmers sustain production.
“I would like to advise government at all levels to invest in food crops production, provide necessary support to farmers and reintroduce Commodity Marketing Board to enable them remain in farm,” he pleaded.
The Head of Economics Department, Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Dr Mustapha Kanoma, said the presidential directive on food importation was the major reason behind low price of food items.
Kanoma said: “Although citizens are enjoying the policy as it eases the hardship, it’s important to have a homegrown policy on food production to sustain the country’s food security.
“It is not bad to have short term plan in addressing any socioeconomic challenge, but we must deal with all critical indices to arrive at lasting solution.”
According to him, no county can improve citizens wellbeing without homegrown economic policy on food security.
In Kebbi, prices of major food items had significantly reduced across markets in the state.
Survey conducted in Birnin Kebbi indicated that the prices of grains, beans, rice and groundnuts recorded noticeable drops compared to two months ago.
The Secretary of the Assorted Grains Sellers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Gudi, observed that the reduction was due to improved harvest and increased market supply.
He said a 100kg bag of maize, which sold for between N48,000 and N50,000 two months ago, now sells for between N38,000 and N40,000.
“A bag of millet that was sold for N60,000 now goes for N40,000, while guinea corn has also dropped from N60,000 to N40,000,” he said.
He added that a bag of white beans, formerly sold for between N120,000 and N130,000, now sells for between N110,000 and N115,000.
“Also, rice which was between N45,000 and N50,000 is now N30,000, while groundnuts dropped from N45,000 -N50,000 and N35,000.
“Sesame has also reduced from N130,000 to N110,000,” he said.
A trader at Kebbi central market, Malam Aliya Jelani, said the arrival of new grains had eased pressure on demand.
“Once new harvests enter the market, prices go down naturally. The only challenge is sustaining it,” he said.
At the old market, Malam Nuhu Kardi, said that although the reduction was encouraging, food items remained relatively expensive.
“We are relieved to see some changes, but we still need government to monitor the markets so that traders will not increase the prices again,” she said.
An Economist, Malam Bello Ibrahim, from Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, said the trend might be seasonal unless supported by targeted government interventions.
He said government must address structural issues affecting food production and distribution.
“What we are seeing is mainly seasonal. For prices to remain stable or continue to fall, government must sustain security in farming areas, reduce transportation costs and support farmers with inputs,” he said.
Ibrahim urged government to invest in storage facilities, regulate transport costs, prevent hoarding and strengthen market monitoring mechanisms.
He also appealed for increased access to credit facilities for small-scale farmers, and for the stabilisation of fuel prices to ease distribution costs.