Food prices crash in North East

…As farmers flood markets with grains ahead Ramadan

…Bag of millet N60,000 as against N80,000 months ago

…Brown beans N90,000 against N120,000

…Groundnut bag N130,000 against N210,000 last year

…Government urged to intervene in high fertilizers’ cost

As Muslims prepare for their holy month, Ramadan fast, the prices of foodstuff and other commodities have crashed in the Northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, which has been devastated by prolonged years of insurgency.

This followed a bumper harvest recorded in all the states, especially in Taraba, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. So far, crops harvested in the region included onions, peppers, maize, rice, yam, Irish potatoes, beans, cassava, melon seed, millet, benniseed, carrots and others.

BusinessDay checks revealed that many factors contributed to the crash in food items, including lack of money in circulation.

The checks further revealed that middlemen are making bulk purchases of harvested crops in markets across the region. Both traders and farmers are selling their farm produce to get needed items ahead of the Ramadan fast.

Part of the reasons for the bumper harvest, BusinessDay gathered was the enormous assistance by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to farmers, with logistics, which include free transportation to farmers across the state to and fro, protection of farmers through the agro-ranger special squad, provision of farm input and access to farmlands, among others.

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State equally invested massively in farming to support the farmers with adequate farm inputs as well as provision of tractors to enhance farming activities.

Abdulmumini Gulani, a socialist, said that the fall in food prices was indeed a good step by the Federal Government to reduce hardship in the country.

He noted that the prices are now fluctuating, “it’s observed that here in Yobe State food prices have decreased by almost 30% as the prices of beans, sorghum, millet and maize are now falling. Others like pepper, onion and other perishable foods have also seen a significant price drop.”

Abdulmumini observed that the current economic situation in Nigeria, including the lack of cash, might have contributed to the fluctuations in food prices but other factors like seasonal changes, local production, and global market trends play a significant role in determining food prices.

“For this reason, we must commend the administration under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts to make life affordable. It’s hoped that the government will look into the issue of the removal of fuel subsidies,” he said.

Read also: FG to tackle high food prices through strategic agriculture investments – Minister

Absence of middlemen

Prices of foodstuffs in Cereal Markets in Potiskum local government area of Yobe State indicated as follows: Millet N60,000 against N80,000 months ago, a 50kg white beans sold for N55 000, 100kg of white beans N87,000, a big Red Beans currently sold for N90,000 against N120,000, and Peanuts are currently sold for N130,000 as against N210,000 last year.

At Damboa town, a farmer, Ali Baba, said that the price of a 100kg-bag of maize had dropped from N54,000 to N40,000; soybeans, from N40,000 to N32,000; sorghum from N50,000 to N41,00; a mudu of locally processed rice, from N3,600 to N1,300; and white beans dropped from N1,700 to N1,100.

“Most of those who are hoarding the commodities are having fear that the crash of grains may continue that’s why all the local markets are flooded with grains after the reflex of importation of rice and other commodities as well as lack of money in circulation.

Abubakar Kois, a trader in Maiduguri Market, explained that the price dropped because of the absence of middlemen who used to make bulk purchases at the markets.

“At the local market now, the prices of grains like maize and beans, among others are gradually coming down. From above N80,000, a bag of beans, it is now about N60,000 with the price of maize somehow remaining stagnant.

“You see, before now, we did not use to go the local market, but now we go to the weekly local market to purchase directly from farmers; I think this is one of the reasons the price keeps going down.

“We are hoping that in a week or two as we prepare for Ramadan, it will crash from around N40,000 per bag because some farmers are intending to sell so that they can buy other condiments,” he said.

In Maiduguri, especially in Molai, the outskirts of the city, the price of a 50kg-bag of maize dropped from N52,000 to N45,000 and guinea corn from N58,000 to N50,000.

Residents said that the reduction in prices was due to the bumper harvest recorded last year in the region, which reduced bulk buying of grains from markets.

Prices of food items fluctuate in Adamawa

Speaking to our Correspondent in Adamawa, some residents expressed fears that if care was not taken, prices of foodstuff may soon go up again because of activities of middlemen who are making bulk purchases of harvested crops in grain markets.

Findings showed that the prices of goods in Adamawa State remains unstable. While prices of food items are on the rise others are witnessing significant fall.

A visit to the Jimeta modern Market, in Yola, one of the major markets in Adamawa, revealed that prices of staple foods like maize, rice, guinea corn, and beans have dropped significantly.

Traders attributed the price drop on grains to lack of money in circulation, thereby forcing especially those hording grains to bring them out for sale. It was also gathered that the conflict between herders and farmers, to a large extent, has been tackled resulting in large production of farm produce.

A trader known as “Yellow” disclosed that he bought grains worth ten million but unfortunately, he can’t bring them out for sale and has resolved in buy more goods with the new price, this is done to avoid incurring losses.

He said he’s patiently waiting for the price of goods to go up before he could sell the ones bought last year.

In October, November 2024, a bag of maize was sold for N60,000 and N65,000 early 2025, but has now dropped to N50,000 or N53,000.

People who stored grains in 2023, by this time last year they were smiling their way to bank, but the story is not the same today.

Ganye Yam Market is a well-known marketplace in Adamawa State, where yams are sold in large quantities at affordable prices. The market attracts buyers from different parts of the country who come to purchase yams in bulk, which are then transported to other states.

Previously, 100 tubers were purchased at N70-N80, 000 and a tuber goes for N500, N700 and N1000 depending on the size. Today, 100 tubers of yams cost at about N200,000 while a small tuber costs between N1000 and N2000.

Yam is one of the major crops grown in Ganye Local Government Area, making the market a key hub for yam traders.

Adamawa State has some of the largest markets for cattle. Ngurore, Mubi, Cigari and Ganye are considered as international cattle market with over 5000 sales of cattle per market day. People from across the country and even neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Benin Republic, Niger troop in to purchase and transport them back for businesses.

Three years ago, a cow was sold at N300,000 to N400,000, now the price has increased to N700,000 and even a million naira for one cow.

Recently, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration launched initiatives to boost food production and security within the state.

The Adamawa State Government introduced programmes like the Agricultural Programme for Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change Adaptation (APPACCA) to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food sufficiency. Additionally, the state’s Food Security Committee also made significant progress in expanding farmland, allocating hundreds of hectares of land for cultivation across various local government areas.

Ahmad Bawa, a professor with Moddibo Adama University, Economic Department, explained that the drop in food prices could be as a result of federal government’s policy on food importation, specifically rice and maize.

He said that the possibility of price hike on food is very minimal and that initiative by any government on food security was a worthy venture.

He stressed that even with Ramadan approaching prices of grains, especially still remain the same.

Despite the challenges, residents are finding ways to cope with the rising prices. Some have resorted to buying in bulk and storing food items for future use. Others have turned to alternative sources of income, such as small-scale farming or petty trading.

The Adamawa State government has also initiated some measures to alleviate the suffering of residents. For instance, the government has established markets where farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers, thereby reducing the cost of middlemen.

Read also: High food prices push inflation to 34.6%, 28th year high

Demand surges as prices of food items drop in Taraba

In Jalingo the state capital, there is an astronomical increase in the demand for goods especially food items in Taraba markets as prices of food items have continued to drop.

Our correspondent in Taraba who moved around the market reported that prices of beans, sorghum, rice, millet and soya beans, among others have drastically reduced in price.

A bag of millet which was initially sold at N75,000 is now sold at N60,000, a bag of beans which was sold at N150,000 is now at N120,000.

Also, a bag of sorghum which was sold at N65,000 is now N45,000 just as a bag of onion which was initially N220,000 is now N70,000.

Fertilizers’ prices skyrocketed

Mallam Hassan Wakili, ex-chairman of rice association Zabrmari said that the prices of fertilizers have skyrocketed at markets in the state ahead of the coming rainy season farming.

He noted that fertilizer dealers in Maiduguri have increased the price of a brand from N20,000 to N25, 000; while another brand is sold for N50,000 to N52,000.

“As it is now, many of the farmers could not afford to buy fertilizers due to high cost in the markets, last year, floods destroyed our crops but we are now working on the dry season farming to recoup our losses. Fertilizers and seedlings are crucial to farmers; governments at all levels should prioritise subsidizing farm inputs,” Wakili said.