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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in stabilising food prices across the country and safeguarding farmers from mounting financial losses caused by a steep decline in the prices of agricultural produce.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State, during Wednesday’s plenary session.
While presenting the motion, Salam stressed the importance of agriculture to Nigeria’s economy, describing it as a key driver of employment, rural income, and national food security.
He, however, raised concern over what he described as a sustained and troubling fall in the prices of farm produce nationwide.
“There has been a consistent and sharp drop in the prices of agricultural produce across the country, affecting staple crops such as cassava, rice, yam and others,” he said.
According to him, the development has resulted in significant financial setbacks for farmers who invested heavily in production through loans, cooperative schemes, and personal resources.
“Farmers are suffering huge losses after committing substantial resources to seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, labour, and transportation, often funded through credit facilities,” Salam added.
He attributed the situation to structural inefficiencies in the agricultural value chain, especially at the post-harvest stage, including inadequate storage infrastructure, weak market coordination, and the absence of reliable off-taker arrangements.
Lawmakers noted that the lack of effective storage and processing facilities has worsened post-harvest losses, compelling farmers to dispose of produce quickly at low prices to prevent spoilage.
The House warned that failure to urgently address the situation could undermine agricultural investment, reduce productivity, and deepen rural economic hardship.
“If this trend continues unchecked, many farmers may abandon production, leading to lower output, reduced investment in agriculture, and increased pressure on food security,” lawmakers cautioned.
They further expressed concern that the situation could trigger food shortages, inflationary pressures, and greater reliance on imported food commodities.
The House also observed that the ripple effects extend beyond production, affecting national nutrition and worsening food insecurity, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Following unanimous adoption of the motion, lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside relevant agencies, to implement urgent corrective measures, including structured off-taking systems and price support mechanisms to protect farmers from market volatility.
They also called for the expansion of storage facilities, strengthening of strategic grain reserves, and development of agro-processing hubs to minimise post-harvest losses and help stabilise market prices.
In addition, the House mandated the government to formulate a sustainable agricultural price stabilisation policy framework aimed at protecting farmers’ investments, enhancing productivity, and ensuring fair returns on produce.
To deepen oversight, lawmakers directed the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the underlying causes of the persistent decline in farm-gate prices and report back within two weeks for further legislative consideration.
The situation highlights a recurring imbalance in Nigeria’s food system, where consumers in urban centres face high retail food prices, while farmers in producing areas are forced to sell at very low farm-gate prices due to oversupply, weak infrastructure, and limited access to broader markets.