Joy in markets, dread on Plateau farms as FG crashes food prices

When the Federal Government announced its decision to crash food prices nationwide, cheers erupted in major markets across Nigeria — including in Plateau State, one of the country’s food baskets. But among Plateau farmers, the reaction wasn’t applause — it was worry.

Plateau farmers are calling on the federal authorities to tread carefully. While buyers rejoice at the promise of cheaper food, those who grow it say the move could crush them.

“I understand the hunger in the land. But if the government forces prices down without supporting us, it’s like asking a man to pour from an empty cup”; Dan Ashoms, a seasoned Irish potato farmer in Barkin Ladi local government, said.

Ashoms trudges through his maize field, his rubber boots caked in mud. He points to rows of plants, their leaves browning from inconsistent rainfall and poor soil nutrition.

“Next year, many will quit. They’ll move to the city to ride Keke. At least there, no one forces you to work at a loss,” he said quietly.

Ashoms is not alone. Across Plateau’s rich agricultural zones — from Riyom to Mangu— farmers say production costs have soared due to inflation, insecurity, and poor road infrastructure. For many, profits have already withered.

Read also: Farmers warn food prices won’t crash unless costs fall

“When fertiliser hit ₦40,000 per bag, we kept quiet. Now they want to force prices down. Who will bear the loss?” Marie Pam, who runs a small vegetable farm in Jos North, said.

The federal government insists its move is aimed at curbing hunger but for many Plateau farmers, that statement — though well-meaning — feels disconnected from realities on ground.

“They didn’t consult us, how can you fix the price of food without talking to the people who grow it?” Pam asked again.

At the heart of the tension lies a classic economic conflict: producers versus consumers. While urban families struggle under skyrocketing inflation, rural farmers grapple with the rising cost of growing what ends up on dinner plates in the cities.

Meanwhile, the markets in Jos tell a different story. Smiles have returned to the faces of buyers who, for years, have juggled basic needs against ever-increasing food costs.

At Katako Market, Hauwa Mohammed clutches a bag of rice with glee. “It’s already ₦3,000 cheaper this week. Finally, something good is happening.”

For her, and many like her, cheaper food means more meals, less hunger, and relief from daily stress.

Civil servant Hassan Dogo shares similar joy. “My salary has not increased. But every time I go to the market, food is more expensive. Let the government intervene, please.”

Still, some worry that this joy may be short-lived if farmers reduce production in response to losses — a fear echoed by experts.

“A price crash without farmer support is like giving out loans with no repayment plan. Farmers might survive one season, but not two,” Dan Yakubu, an Agriculturalist based in Jos, said.

He argues that price controls must be balanced with subsidies, grants, and guaranteed off-take to prevent disincentivising food production.

Interestingly, the federal government’s move to lower food prices came before many of these concerns were publicly voiced by farmers. As part of that plan, President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to take urgent action, including ensuring the safe and unhindered movement of farm produce across key transport routes.

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, confirmed that a special committee is already working on ways to reduce the high cost of transporting food, which he described as a major driver of inflation. “If you know the amount of money being spent moving commodities before they reach markets, you will understand why they are expensive at the point of delivery,” he explained.

Abdullahi also highlighted upcoming initiatives to boost productivity, including the launch of the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and a cooperative reform and revamp programme aimed at mobilising resources and strengthening grassroots economic activity.

“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for economic activity generation and improving members’ livelihoods,” he added.

While this directive targets some critical points of the supply chain, experts say it must be followed by broader structural support — especially if farmers are to survive a season of reduced returns.

For now, a delicate balance must be struck between hungry families in the cities and hard-working farmers in the countryside.

The government’s next steps could determine not just this year’s harvest, but the food security of the nation in the years ahead. And in the fields of Plateau, farmers wait — watching the skies, the soil, and the decisions made far away, in offices they have never seen.