Rice, maize farmers suffer losses over low prices in Taraba

Farmers in Taraba State have suffered losses following a crash of the price of farm produce, especially paddy and maize. Findings revealed that rice and maize farmers would hardly recover half of what they invested in their farms because of the low price in Taraba markets. Yau Aliyu, a small-scale farmer in Jalingo town, told […]

Farmers in Taraba State have suffered losses following a crash of the price of farm produce, especially paddy and maize.

Findings revealed that rice and maize farmers would hardly recover half of what they invested in their farms because of the low price in Taraba markets.

Yau Aliyu, a small-scale farmer in Jalingo town, told our reporter that he invested N1,400,000 from planting to harvest in his maize farm and harvested only 30 (100kg) bags.

He said with the current price of N20,000 per bag, what he will get if he sells the 30 bags is only N600,000.

According to him, he suffered a loss of N800,000, adding that the low price of maize has crippled his plan to embark on irrigation farming this season.

“I don’t have money to invest in irrigation farming this season, and what I lost in the post-harvest is a wrong signal to farming activities because it is no longer profitable,” he said.

Another farmer, Nuhu Dauda, in Mutum Biyu area, Gassol Local Government Area, told Daily Trust that his saving grace was melon seeds and soya beans, which he harvested and gained a profit from.

He said however he realized only forty percent of what he invested in his rice and maize farms.

Dauda revealed that during the wet season, he invested three million Naira from planting to harvest in his rice and maize farms, but the market price was very disappointing.

He said with the current price of Maize and Paddy Rice at between N28,000 to N20,000 per bag, he will only get forty-five percent of what he invested in the farms.

“My relief was that I did not borrow money from the bank or from an individual to invest in the farm, and I would have been in trouble now.

“With what is happening, farmers will only concentrate on cash crops and abandon production of food crops next farming season, and it will have serious implications for food security in the North,” he said.

Lawal Suleiman, another farmer, also told Daily Trust that he suffered losses this harvesting period.

According to him, the post-harvest price of farm produce has brought misfortune to the farmers because of the crash of the price of farm produce, especially Maize and Rice.

He said the current price of paddy Rice and Maize was far below the expectations of the farmers, pointing out that Rice and maize farmers have lost over fifty percent of their investment.

Suleiman lamented that farmers bought fertilizer at N48,000 per bag and also paid high for labour and other farm inputs, yet the price of farm produce was very low, and no assistance was rendered to farmers either by the Federal or State government.

He accused the Federal government of importing rice and maize, which brought down the price of the commodities in Nigeria.

He explained that importation of rice and Maize will kill local production of the two commodities, thereby rendering farmers in the North without means of livelihood.

Suleiman, however, challenged Northern governors to assist farmers in their respective states in order to help sustain farming activities, which is a source of employment for many people in the North.