Farmers, traders lament high food costs amidst harvest

JOY OHIMAI

Some farmers and food sellers in the South-South region have expressed concerns over the high cost of food irrespective of the harvest season.

The stakeholders, who responded to a survey in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross Rivers, said that a remarkable fall in food prices was witnessed during the previous harvest season The stakeholders maintained that only a few food items recorded very insignificant price drops during the current season.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers, a foodstuff seller, Mrs Benedicta Amadi, said the impact of the harvest season was not felt by consumers due to the high cost of transportation.

Some farmers and food sellers in the South-South region have expressed concerns over the high cost of food irrespective of the harvest season.

The stakeholders, who responded to a survey in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross Rivers, said that a remarkable fall in food prices was witnessed during the previous harvest season.

The stakeholders maintained that Farmers, traders lament high food costs amidst harvest Amadi, said the impact of the harvest season was not felt by consumers due to the high cost of transportation.

Amadi said that a greater percentage of her business profit was currently being factored into transportation costs which had led to increased costs.

She explained that during the 2023 harvest season, a sizable tuber of yam was sold for N800 while currently, the same size was being sold for between N4,000 and N6,000.

‘’Perishable items such as tomatoes, onion and pepper recorded an incomparable price disparity between the 2023 and 2024 harvest seasons.

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Amadi said that a greater percentage of her business profit was currently being factored into transportation costs which had led to increased costs.

She explained that during the 2023 harvest season, a sizable tuber of yam was sold for N800 while currently, the same size was being sold for between N4,000 and N6,000.

‘’Perishable items such as tomatoes, onion and pepper recorded an incomparable price disparity between the 2023 and 2024 harvest seasons.

‘’A basket of pepper which was sold between N1,500 and N3,000 in 2023 is now sold at almost N16,000. It is the same with tomatoes, onions and others,” she said.

Amadi said the prices of rice, beans and corn might drop during the dry season in some parts of the country, saying,” This might not be felt in Rivers if the current transportation situation persists.”

She urged the federal government to be proactive towards implementing its palliative measures in the transportation sector, saying that such will impact positively on food prices.