Pepper price surges in Plateau due to off-season farming costs

The price of pepper has skyrocketed in Jos, Plateau State, causing concern among consumers and traders alike. A custard rubber of pepper, which sold for ₦4,000 to ₦5,500 in September 2024, now goes for between ₦10,000 and ₦12,000.

This represents more than a 100% increase within less than a year, marking one of the sharpest price hikes in recent times.

When BusinessDay visited the popular Terminus and Farin Gada markets on Thursday, several traders attributed the spike to off-season farming challenges.

Hadiza Adamu, a pepper trader at Farin Gada market, said production costs that farmers incur during the dry season are considerably higher. “Everything we use during dry season is expensive, water, fertilizer, even labour,” she said.

According to her, the current pepper supply was cultivated during the dry season, which depends on irrigation rather than natural rainfall.

She explained that unlike the rainy season, where natural water supports growth, dry season farming requires artificial watering and frequent input application. “The cost of maintaining the farm is too high in dry season,” Adamu added.

Another trader, Zainab Danlami, said that many sellers are also facing transportation difficulties due to the insecurity in rural areas. “Insecurity is making it difficult for farmers to work freely; so supply is less,” she stated.

Musa Bitrus, a farmer in Jos North Local Government Area, shared a similar concern.

“There was fear of attacks in places like Bokkos, Bassa and Mangu,” Bitrus said.

He noted that many farmers abandoned their farms during the dry season due to rising insecurity and fear for their safety.

According to him, this situation drastically reduced the number of people cultivating pepper in Plateau State.

Bitrus explained that fewer farmers working means lower supply, inevitably pushing up prices in the market.

Consumers are now forced to adjust their spending or reduce the quantity of pepper they purchase.

“I used to buy half rubber for ₦2,000. Now it’s ₦5,000,” said Rose Musa, a food vendor in Jos.

She expressed concern that high pepper prices could lead to increased food costs generally, especially for those in the food business.

Market observers predict that the prices may remain elevated until the rainy season harvest begins by late July or August.

Read also: Rising pepper demand opens opportunity for growers

Some traders are hopeful that once the fresh produce from the wet season enters the market, prices will begin to fall.

However, farmers are calling for urgent government support to make off-season farming more affordable and secure.

The Plateau State Government, under Governor Caleb Mutfwang, has repeatedly pledged support for the agricultural sector.

In recent statements, the governor announced plans to improve irrigation systems and subsidize farm inputs for off-season cultivation.

Despite these promises, many farmers say they have not yet felt the impact of government intervention.

“We hear about these plans, but nothing is reaching us in the villages,” said Dauda Iliya, a farmer from Mangu.

Farmers are now urging authorities to fast-track their support and provide adequate security for farming communities.

Until then, both producers and consumers are bracing for continued high prices at least, all through the next few months.