By Mercy Omoike
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has projected a drop in food prices in the coming harvest season following the Federal Government’s distribution of fertilisers to farmers across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and AFAN under the leadership of Mr Mohammed Mogaji, recently distributed fertilisers to 3,040 farmers in 26 states.
AFAN leaders at the national and state levels made the projection in separate interviews with NAN on Monday in Lagos.
The Acting Chairman of AFAN in Lagos State, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, described the intervention as timely and impactful, saying it would positively affect food production and prices.
“The recent fertiliser intervention by the Federal Government has really helped farmers, not only in Lagos but across the federation.
“Providing this vital agricultural input free of charge through the Farmer Input Support Programme is highly commendable.
“If farmers make proper use of the fertilisers, the cost of food commodities should become more affordable by harvest time because part of the production cost has already been subsidised,” Agbayewa said.
According to him, farmers have no justification for maintaining high prices when production costs have been reduced through the intervention.
“I see no reason local farmers cannot sell their produce at more affordable prices. This will improve access to quality food and support government efforts to address food insecurity,” he said.
Agbayewa noted that with fertiliser selling for about N40,000 per bag, each beneficiary farmer who received four bags saved approximately N160,000 during the planting season.
He said the intervention translated to an estimated N486.4 million savings for the 3,040 beneficiary farmers.
“To say the intervention is impactful is an understatement. We appreciate the President Bola Tinubu administration for being responsive to the needs of farmers,” he said.
Also speaking, the National General Secretary of AFAN, Mr Femi Oke, described the fertiliser distribution through NADF as a welcome development.
“The fertilisers came at the right time because this is the wet season when farmers need them most.
“If farmers make good use of the intervention, it will increase yields, result in bumper harvests and ultimately lead to a reduction in food prices.
“The drop may not be immediate, but by harvest time we should begin to see the impact,” Oke said. (NAN)