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I’d be dropping some very grim figures and projections tomorrow , you can disagree but do well to check NBS data , demand prices locally and internationally. Come correct . https://twitter.com/borie_nla/status/1328001990346027010
Notice the food inflation?
There's so much to it than meet the eyes - COVID, fragmented supply chain ,flooding , poor planning ,these are the chief culprits and policy failure tweak
As much as I'd like to talk about alot of crops that's been affected, and will still be affected.
There's so much to it than meet the eyes - COVID, fragmented supply chain ,flooding , poor planning ,these are the chief culprits and policy failure tweak
As much as I'd like to talk about alot of crops that's been affected, and will still be affected.
The onions producing states in Nigeria includes Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi, Jigawa and Kebbi. The last two are the highest, with Aliero in Kebbi State, being the highest producing onion community in West Africa.
In Aliero, onion is produced in such large quantities to the extent that, as a cultural tradition of the land, it is given out for free every February. This has earned the town the title "Land of Onions."
But here's the problem; at the peak of the lockdown, movement across communities/States were restricted, with Kaduna State blocking off entry and exit into the State. At the onset of rainy seasons, farmers move around (in the North), to communities where the rains are most steady
And labor is most accessible, to plant; but the lockdown restricted 35% of this migrating population; and that's 35% less farmlands to be cultivated spread across NorthWest especially. Due to the fragmented supply chain, and chain, and how farm input prices skyrocketed ...
during the lockdown, alot of the farmers who planted, didn't plant the usual acreage they're used to. So, that's less harvest expected (please add that to the guys who didn't plant as a result of restriction of movement). Then came the rains, towards harvest.
The late rains it didn't just rain, it flooded entire communities. Aliero/Gwandu constituency where the biggest bulk of onions in Nigeria comes from, got flooded,that's almost nothing coming from these quarters. 80% of the entire farmland in Jigawa State got flooded in September
Just like most States in North West and North Central); leaving about 15,000 people homeless and countless dead/missing. Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, and some parts of 7 local governments in Plateau, got flooded in between August and September; I'll spare you the details.
Along comes your fragmented supply chain, the marriage of middlemen and truck drivers. Demand beating supply black and blue, and most middlemen, using this period to stifle available products and make the most profit from it ,I know because I know people who operate in that space
So, the supply chain is broken, there's no free flow of commodity like it used to be, access to Commodities are restricted, the guy with the bag of money controls the price of commodity somewhat, and so, by the time the onions get to your market in Surulere .
You the final consumer is buying 1 small bulb of onion for N100, as opposed to having 4-5 small bulbs for N100.
Now, replace Onion with Rice (which was also affected by the flood too), Maize, and several other Commodities.
Now, replace Onion with Rice (which was also affected by the flood too), Maize, and several other Commodities.
That's the reality. Ideally, certain food prices should be lower now, as it's harvest season for most crops, but here we are. Add the two month drought in the buffer zone of the south west , we have a calamity on our hands .
This why their is a call for policy reviews at moments like this , it’s best to open the borders Usually, in times like this, when the borders are open, we'd be bringing some of these commodities from Benin republic, Niger, Chad, and Southern Cameroun; so as to cushion against
Thescarcity. But alas, the powers that be, says nah, the border needs to remain closed( expect for Alhaji and friends)
So, I'd just thought you should really know why onions and other food items will be pricey from now, till, at least, around October next year .
So, I'd just thought you should really know why onions and other food items will be pricey from now, till, at least, around October next year .
#HungerAtTheGates and for inflation data you can check NBS stats , it’s been at over 1.2% in the past couple of months .
Don’t ask me if we have a minister of agriculture.
Don’t ask me if we have a minister of agriculture.
