GRAIN SELLERS AND MARKETERS GIVE REASONS BEHIND HIGH COST AND SHORTAGE OF FOOD STUFFS IN YOBE 17-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu Grain sellers in Yobe State says the shortage of food and the inflation rate in prices of all goods has also affected their own businesses.
The Chairman, Grain Sellers Association Potiskum, Alh Abdullahi Garin Daya made the disclosure in an interview with Newsmen.
He attributed the present inflation been witnessed to devaluation of Nigerian Currency, removal of fuel subsidy and Insecurity which disallowed farmers to have access to their farmlands.
Reacting to the directive of Governor Mai Mala Buni, on the issue of bulk sale to neighboring countries and hoarding of grains, Alh Daya said the northeastern parts of the country witnessed shortage in rainfall which led to low harvest.
“a farmer who harvest from 100 to 200 bags of millet or sorghum, ended up getting 20 to 30 bags due to rain shortage and lack of fertilizer, so what do you expect?
“in Yobe for instance, majority of our farmers plants sorghum, millet and beans, we hardly plant maize, we sell out these grains outside and bring back Maize and wheat, the cost of transporting each bag of grain from Sokoto is about 5000 Naira, which was 1000 to 2000 Naira before the inception of this new government, A bag of fertilizer use to sell at 11,000 to 19,000 but now sold at 35,000 to 42,000. the situation is terrible” he explained.
Alh Daya advised government to declare state of emergency on agriculture and sell fertilizer directly to farmers at a subsidized rate.
The Chairman United Marketers Association Yobe State Alh. Nasiru Mato said the Union has organized Special Prayer Session to seek for divine intervention from Almighty God, instead of organizing protest that would lead to chaos and disorder.
He also called on the people of the state to do all businessmen with the fear of God.
On issues related to hoarding of grains and other essential commodities, Alh Mato said every business is only trying to survive considered the economic situation of the country and the untold hardship witnessed all around the country.
“people are just saying what they cannot defend, a truck of sugar is about 42 million, a truck of maize is also more than 40 million, now tell me, if you hoard 2 trucks of both maize and sugar each, which is more than 100 million naira, what have you to sell again? how many Marketers do we have that control more than 100 Million Naira? people are just writing what the want on social media”.
“all businesses and businessmen are just trying to maintain their capital because the removal of fuel subsidy, devaluation of naira notes and payment of taxes is really a big deal to handle” he explained.
On the State government’s decision to stop the sale of grains to Neighboring countries Alh Mato said the increase in demand, due to increase in population is the major reason behind food shortage and hike in prices, not bulk purchase by outsiders.
“30 years back there was sufficient food in the country because everyone happen to be a farmer and our population was less than 170 million, but now there are over 250 million people in Nigeria, how can there be sufficiency amidst rising Poverty, Unemployment and Insecurity?” he added.
Alh Mato called on government at both Federal and State level to Empower farmers through the provision of mechanized farming implements, subsidized seeds/fertilizers and also provide security to boost food production in the State and the country.
Potiskum Grains and animals Market is one of the biggest market in the Northeastern Part of the Country.