News in Brief:
– Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister convened an emergency meeting with onion producers to address a potential 40% production shortfall caused by adulterated seeds, leading to skyrocketing prices.
– The government is implementing immediate and long-term solutions, including distributing quality seeds, improving storage facilities, and utilising warehouses to stabilise supply and prices.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, convened an emergency meeting with the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), to address a looming crisis in onion production.
He revealed that reports indicate a potential 40% shortfall this season, primarily due to the distribution of adulterated seeds to farmers.
It will be recalled that onion prices skyrocketed in recent months, with average-sized bulbs selling for as much as five to eight times their usual value. This left many consumers reeling from the impact and the general effects of food inflation, as reported by this publication.
NOPPMAN identifies culprit
The meeting, called in response to the alarming situation, saw NOPPMAN reveal that one of its members was responsible for supplying the substandard seeds.
Subsequently, the association demonstrated its commitment to addressing the issue by identifying the individual and handing him over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation. The Minister commended the group for their proactive approach.
Immediate and long-term mitigation strategies
Furthermore, discussions during the meeting focused on immediate and long-term solutions to soften the situation. These solutions include the urgent distribution of high-quality seeds and fertilisers to affected farmers.
Meantime, the agency is also accelerating plans to establish modern storage facilities to minimise post-harvest losses and ensure a stable market supply. The Minister and NOPPMAN explored innovative preservation techniques, such as using rice straws for packaging and improving cold storage methods.
Recognising the immediate impact of the shortage on the market, Senator Kyari stressed the prioritisation of utilising warehouses to store existing harvests and ensure efficient distribution. Overall, these measures aim to stabilise both the supply and price of onions in the coming months.
Nigeria’s onion market overview
Nigeria’s onion market is expanding, with rising demand and supply. However, the price of onions has been volatile, with prices increasing significantly ahead of the 2024 festive season.
As Africa’s second-largest and the world’s seventh-largest onion producer, Nigeria sees Sokoto state leading production (20% of national output) during the dry season (February-April). Effectively, demand has grown 2.7% annually since 2017 and is projected to reach 1.6 million metric tons by 2026.
