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Food Prices Have Reduced by 50% — Agric Minister
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says prices of essential food commodities have reduced by up to 50 per cent across the country.
Kyari disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while declaring open the Community of Practice Meeting of Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development.
The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government and supported by Germany under the theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria.”
Addressing participants, Kyari said President Bola Tinubu has placed food security at the centre of the national agenda.
“Our responsibility is to translate that mandate into increased production, greater affordability, stronger rural economies and a more resilient food system,” he said.
“We have seen the reduction of up to 50 per cent in prices of some essential food commodities, alongside expanded input delivery, investment in rural infrastructure and support to smallholder farmers.”
Kyari said prices had significantly dropped compared to 2023.
“Let’s be honest, how much was a bag of rice and maize in 2023, and how much is it now? What is the percentage? Let us not play politics with these things,” he added.
He noted that the summit will take into account the Kampala Comprehensive African Development Programme Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2035.
“The Kampala framework takes a broader agrifood systems approach, with priorities spanning sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance.
“For a country of Nigeria’s scale, the choices we make in agriculture have consequences beyond our borders,” he said.
Kyari said Nigeria has developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan as the vehicle for domesticating these commitments.
He urged states to focus on implementation.
“States should leave this meeting clearer on how their action plans will advance the Kampala commitments and align with national priorities across rural infrastructure, extension, credit and quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilient agriculture,” he said.
Earlier, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr Karin Jansen, said Germany would continue to support Nigeria in strengthening agricultural policy processes and civil society participation.
“Through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies project – AgSys, German Development Cooperation supports Nigerian partners in strengthening agricultural policy processes, scaling successful approaches and strengthening civil society participation. Our aim is simple: to strengthen existing structures and help turn national commitments into action where it matters most,” she said.
