As the harvest season commences in various parts of Nigeria, the prices of foodstuffs have exhibited a mixed trend in Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States. While some areas have witnessed a decrease in prices, others continue to experience high costs, impacting the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.
In Kano State, the arrival of new harvests has led to a reduction in food prices, with grains like maize, millet, and beans experiencing a significant drop. A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the prices of some grains have reduced. For instance, a bag of maize was selling for N95,000 as against N105,000, while a bag of millet, which was sold for N90,000, now goes for N80,000. Similarly, a bag of beans that previously sold for between N170,000 and N180,000 now sells at N130,000, depending on the quality.
However, local rice, which is still experiencing high demand, remains costly, with a bag going for between N150,000 and N170,000. The price of tomatoes has crashed in Kano, as onions' price also witnessed an increase. A bowl and a measure of tomatoes that used to be sold for N3,200 and N3,500 have been reduced to N2,400 and N2,000, respectively.
In Kaduna State, the prices of foodstuffs have stabilized in some areas, such as Zaria, but remain high in others, including Kaduna city. Farmers in Kafanchan attribute the reduction in prices to bumper harvests. Amos Barnabas, a large-scale farmer, said food prices were gradually coming down in the markets because farmers have started harvesting their crops. Ladi Gimba, a tomato seller, told NAN that tomatoes were now cheaper than they were at the beginning of the year.
However, in Kaduna city and its environs, some residents said that the news being peddled on the reduction in prices of food items was not the reality in markets. Both consumers and sellers of food items and other essentials told NAN that there was no significant change in food prices. Mas'ud Abubakar, who sells food items at the Kasuwan Barci market, said the prices of food items have remained the same for the last two weeks.
In Katsina State, despite the start of the harvest season, food prices remain high, with only slight decreases in some areas. The prices of perishable commodities like tomatoes have decreased, but other staples like millet and maize remain costly. A 100kg bag of beans, which was sold at N200,000 and above before, now dropped to about N168,000, also depending on the quality and the market.
Farmers and traders across the states predict further reductions in food prices as the harvest season progresses, citing increased supply and improved storage systems as key factors. However, consumers continue to feel the pinch of high prices, urging the government and stakeholders to ensure food affordability.