News in brief:
– Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture has urged farmers to cut production costs to help lower food prices.
– The government supports this goal through initiatives like NALDA’s land development plan and aid for displaced persons.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, has called on farmers to reduce the cost of food production to help tackle rising food prices. Speaking at a stakeholder workshop in Abuja, Abdullahi revealed that about 60% of farming expenses—covering land preparation to harvest—come from production costs, which directly affects food affordability for everyday Nigerians.
He urged farmers and stakeholders to work together to optimise farming practices and lower expenses, noting that high production costs lead to higher food prices for consumers. The minister added that President Tinubu’s food security agenda relies on making farming more efficient and profitable.
The event highlighted NALDA’s (National Agricultural Lands Development Authority) 10-year strategic plan to develop 10 million hectares of land by 2035. Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Cornelius Adebayo, explained that modern land development will include clearing, irrigation, and infrastructure like hostels and security for farmers. He stressed that partnerships with the private sector are essential to achieving these goals.
Already, NALDA is working with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to clear 150,000 hectares of farmland to support displaced persons (IDPs), helping them become self-sufficient.
Farmers are encouraged to embrace cost-saving techniques and work with government initiatives to increase yield per hectare and ensure Nigeria’s food security, while reducing reliance on food imports.
Government role in reducing production costs
Encouraging primary producers to reduce production costs is noble but there are ways that the governments can help them. Favourable policies, support programmes, and infrastructure development can be deployed through these practical means:
- Inputs and subsidies: Reduce the cost of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and machinery through targeted subsidies. Provide grants or low-interest loans for purchasing or leasing equipment. Support lower energy costs for irrigation and processing.
- Access to affordable financing: Offer low-interest loans and credit facilities tailored to smallholder and commercial farmers. Develop insurance schemes to reduce financial risk from crop failure or price drops.
- Improved infrastructure: Invest in rural roads, storage facilities, and irrigation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and logistics costs. Support transportation networks for faster and cheaper access to markets.
- Extension services & training: Provide technical support and training programmes on best farming practices, efficient input use, and modern technologies. Promote digital advisory services for real-time information on weather, pest outbreaks, and pricing.
- Research and development: Invest in agricultural research to develop high-yielding, drought-resistant, and disease-tolerant crop varieties. Promote the use of biological pest control and organic fertilisers to reduce chemical costs.
- Market support & price stabilisation: Facilitate market access by supporting cooperatives and linkages with buyers. Implement price stabilisation policies or minimum price guarantees to reduce income uncertainty.
- Tax incentives: Offer tax breaks or duty-free importation for farm inputs and equipment, digital platforms for input sourcing, financing, and market access. Promote precision agriculture tools (e.g., soil testing, drones) that optimise input use and reduce waste.
