Farmers across Nigeria don raise alarm say the 2026 farming season fit be one of the worst ever as the Federal Government food import waiver dey crash prices and kill their profits.

 

According to many farmers, the 2024 import waiver wey allow cheap foreign food enter the country don make local produce lose value, and e don become almost impossible for dem to sell their harvest, repay bank loans or prepare their farms for next season.

Prices of foodstuffs for market don drop seriously. Federal Government don claim responsibility, say na their intervention make am happen.

 

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, even boast during the 47th National Council on Agriculture meeting for Kaduna say Nigeria dey witness “positive decline” in food prices because of targeted intervention, increased production and investment.

 

He talk say under President Bola Tinubu, government dey work to achieve food sovereignty make Nigeria dey chop wetin e produce.

 

But farmers say all those grammar no dey solve their current suffering.

One maize farmer, Adesola Yinka, say the government action na “cosmetic intervention” wey no dey help real farmers.

 

She explain say the import waiver don destroy their income:

• Farmers dey lose almost everything

• Spend ₦10 million, no fit get ₦2 million back

• Bag of maize drop from ₦80,000 to ₦25,000 per 100kg

• Cassava farmers dey sell a full pickup load for just ₦15,000

 

Yinka warn say many farmers no go fit return to farm next year because dem don lose money finish.

 

She even talk say during election seasons, government no dey focus on agriculture and insecurity go rise, unless America intervene.

 

She add say farmers don sack workers and still no fit pay them.

Another farmer, Busari Ahmed, accuse some farmers say dem hoard produce when prices high and even export am secretly to neighbouring countries.

 

He say some farmers dey complain now but na because dem no fit repeat the gains dem chop during border closure.

For him own side, Bayo Bamgbose advise farmers make dem join hands reduce cost and begin process their crops into finished products.

 

He give example say cassava get many possible products and farmers fit make money if dem process am well.

National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ibrahim Kabir, agree say the import waiver dey affect local farmers.

 

He talk say:

• Yes, farmers dey rightly complain

• But government’s intention na to reduce food inflation

• If imports drop in price too, farmers own cost go reduce

 

Kabir warn say if government no apply better measures, farmers go face serious hardship.

 

He suggest:

• More subsidy for seeds and inputs

• Government should increase subsidy from 25% to 50%

• Strengthen the naira purchasing power

He say even with the reduced food prices, many Nigerians still no fit afford food.

Yinka warn say:

• Many farmers already owe workers

• Selling harvest no fit pay bills

• By 2028, Nigerians go understand the damage caused by this waiver

• Many farmers fit abandon farming totally

• Food crisis fit worsen

 

As the matter be now, farmers say dem dey face their toughest season in years and unless government change strategy, many go drop farming, leading to bigger food crisis for Nigeria.