SOME experts in the economic sector have advocated for the introduction of commodity board to check soaring inflation of food prices in the country.
The experts including economists, academics and farmers said this in seperate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe.
They said the measure was imperative to control inflation and enhance food security for the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the inflation rate rose to over 33.69 per cent in March 2024 compared to the 33.20 per cent in March 2023.
The NBS in its April 2024 Consumer Price Index Report indicates that: “In April 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.69 per cent relative to the March 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.20 per cent. Looking at the movement, the April 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.49 per cent points when compared to the March 2024 headline inflation rate.
“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.47 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in April 2023, which was 22.22 per cent. This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in the month of April 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., April 2023).
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“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which was 0.73 per cent lower than the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.02 per cent). This means that in the month of April 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2024”.
Dr Joseph Hussaini, a Gombe-based agronomist, said the introduction of commodity board was necessary to check inflation and address food insecurity in the country.
He said the board would stabilise food prices in the market, and make things easier for the common man.
“Because the commodity board is not in place, traders unilaterally fix prices and nobody will query them,” he said.
Hussaini underscored the importance of enhancing farmer access to subsidised fertilisers, inputs and agricultural financing to check food inflation in the country.
“Lack price control of fertilisers and inputs resulted to high cost of food items,” he said, adding that other factors that trigger inflation included effects of climate change on crop production, poor extension services and high cost of transportation.
“The rainy season is critical to crop production, but the dry spell resulted to the lower yields at harvest and reduced supply to the markets.”
The expert also attributed the inflation to the land boarder closure by the previous administration which prevented smooth flow of trade between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The trend, he said, resulted to the unprecedented surge in smuggling of food and essential commodities across the borders, and soaring inflation.
Also; Dr Salihu Adamu, an Agronomist in the Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse, stressed the need for the government to control prices of agricultural produce to tackle food inflation.
According to him, it is good for the government at all levels to be engaged at every stage of the agricultural value chain, to encourage productivity and improve farmer enterprising skills to achieve food sufficiency.
Adamu argued that providing subsidy to the farmers on inputs alone would not solve the problem, and advocated proactive measures to regulate prices in the country.
“It doesn’t make sense for governments to invest huge sums in subsidising fertilisers and inputs yet prices of food items soar after harvest.
“Government must be involved in the value chains, to know the market where the commodities are being sold, especially as some elements are smuggling it to other countries for higher prices”.
Fertiliser distribution to Gombe farmers
Similarly, Dr Hassan Abdulrahman, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Bauchi State University Gadau, attributed the drop in food supply to insecurity in the country.
He said that security challenges resulted to drastic drop in food production and inflation.
Abdulrahman said that many farmers had been displaced in several communities thereby reducing the food producing capacity of the country.
“The fall in food production pushed prices further high, it raises concern about the safety and wellbeing of the farmers.
“Some elements are engaging in hoarding and smuggling of food items across the borders where prices might be higher. This reduced food supply to the local markets.
“The impacts of non-availability of food, potentially lead to shortages in domestic markets and inflation,” he said.
On inflation control measures, Abdulrahman recommended adoption of improved farmer support services and sound disaster control programmes to mitigate flood, drought, pest infestation and post-harvest losses.
He urged the governments at all levels to prioritise smart agriculture and irrigation programmes, to encourage productivity and enhance food security in the country.
To buttress the call, Hamisu Gumel, a media aide to Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, said the state government had initiated viable irrigation schemes in line with its agriculture transformation programme.
He said the programmes are designed to upgrade irrigation infrastructure through mechanisation to accelerate crop production towards achieving sustainable food security programme.
“The ultimate goal is to position Jigawa as a hub for agro-industrial activities in Nigeria and West Africa within a short while”.
On his part, Ismaila Misili, Director-General Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, said the state government had distributed assorted fertilisers to the farmers at 50 per cent subsidy for 2024 cropping season.
The gesture, he said would enhance farmer access to fertilisers and inputs to encourage productivity.
“The government recognises the vital role of agriculture in the livelihood of the people and the overall economic development of the state.
“Gombe state, being the heartbeat of the North-East region, is predominantly agrarian, with about 85 per cent of the population engaged in farming.
“Therefore, we are collaborating with the Federal Government and development organisations like the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB), to fast track implementation of viable agriculture development projects in the state,” said Misili. (NAN)
