AFAN Cashew Farmers Fault FG

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the National Apex of Cashew Farmers, Processors and Marketing Cooperative Limited have dismissed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security’s recent claim that increased domestic production is responsible for the current reduction in food prices. Both organisations argued that the decline is not a sign of improved agricultural conditions, but rather a short-term outcome influenced by seasonal and economic factors, which may not last if farmers continue to struggle without sufficient government assistance.

AFAN President, Kabir Ibrahim, acknowledged that some food items are presently selling at lower prices, but attributed this mainly to the harvest season, the temporary suspension of tariffs on food imports between July and December last year, and the reduced purchasing power of consumers. He explained that these factors, rather than increased productivity from policy intervention, are driving current price trends.

According to Ibrahim, the current environment may not be sustainable because farmers are dealing with rising costs of production inputs such as fertilizers, agrochemicals, seeds, and labour. He noted that although more young people are now engaging in farming and output appears to have grown compared to past years, farmers still face the same inflationary pressures affecting households nationwide. He stressed that without affordable input supplies and predictable market conditions, many farmers may no longer be able to maintain or expand production.

To prevent a future food supply crisis, AFAN called for urgent measures, including reducing the costs of farm inputs and adopting a Guaranteed Minimum Price system that would ensure farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. The association argued that such policies would encourage farmers to stay in production and protect them from price manipulation and losses during market fluctuations.

On his part, the National President of the Cashew Farmers Cooperative, Yunusa Enemali, described the minister’s position as disconnected from the realities farmers encounter daily. He pointed out that many farmers rely on loans to finance production and are forced to sell their harvests quickly and cheaply because they lack proper storage facilities. Without warehouses, he said, farmers have no choice but to offload produce immediately to avoid spoilage, which drives prices down temporarily.

Enemali further highlighted the absence of a functional regulatory framework for agricultural markets. He explained that middlemen often dictate prices during harvest periods, leaving farmers with minimal profits while they absorb the high cost of production. The lack of a price control board, he said, allows food prices to fluctuate unpredictably, making it difficult for both producers and consumers to plan or survive economically.

He also questioned whether the recent decline in prices has genuinely eased the burdens faced by ordinary citizens, noting that transportation and fuel costs remain high. Enemali concluded that government officials are not fully in touch with the challenges confronting farmers and should not claim credit for a price drop that has not translated into real affordability or system-wide stability.