Farmers in Taraba State have raised concerns about the persistent drop in prices of their agricultural products.
On a recent visit to the Mutum Biyu Grains Market, farmers expressed disappointment after discovering further reductions in the prices of various farm goods.
Reports from our correspondent who covered the Iware and Mutum Biyu markets indicate that the prices of grains have plummeted to levels not seen in recent years.
For example, a 100-kilogram bag of maize, which sold for N20,000 last week, is now priced between N15,000 and N17,000. Additionally, the cost of a 100-kilogram bag of dried cassava has dropped from N8,000 to N4,000, while the price of a bag of paddy rice has fallen from N24,000 to N19,000.
The decline in prices is not limited to maize and cassava. Other staples like white beans, millet, locally-produced rice, palm oil, and sorghum have also seen substantial price reductions throughout the state.
Bala Dauda Tutare from Gassol Local Government shared his frustrations about the ongoing decrease in prices. He mentioned that farmers who cultivated cassava, maize, and sorghum during the last season are facing significant hardships due to the failing market.
Tutare reported investing N4 million into his cassava farm with hopes of a profitable return, yet upon harvesting, he was met with drastically lowered prices for both raw and dried cassava.
He was able to harvest 30 tonnes of dried cassava this year but found the price slump disheartening. Currently, he is seeking buyers for the 3,000 bags he has, even at the reduced rate of N3,000 each, but has not yet found anyone willing to purchase.
While he managed to harvest three out of five cassava farms, Tutare revealed his plans to delay harvesting the remaining two farms until next year in hopes of improved prices.
He criticized the federal government for its rice and maize imports, suggesting that such importation has led to the devaluation of local produce prices.
Another farmer, Suleiman Muhammed, lamented losses exceeding N3 million due to the falling prices. He explained that after harvesting his rice and maize, he watched in dismay as prices continued to decline instead of rebound.
Muhammed expressed concern that if he sold all of his harvest, he would not recoup even half of his initial investment. Unlike some farmers, he noted that his investments were funded without loans, allowing him to avoid additional financial burdens.
Silvanus James, a smallholder farmer from Garba-Chede in Bali Local Government, described how he has been avoiding his home due to pressure from two lenders demanding repayment. He had borrowed N1.5 million with the understanding that it would be repaid post-harvest, but with his sales resulting in just N500,000, he finds himself unable to meet the obligations.
James lamented the financial pressure and the necessity of waiting to settle his debts, leading to his current distressing situation.
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