REPS PUSH FOR PRICE STABILITY POLICIES TO PROTECT FARMERS FROM HEAVY LOSSES
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently introduce policies aimed at stabilising the prices of agricultural produce, warning that farmers across the country are suffering significant losses.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Bamidele Salam, who raised concern over a sharp drop in the prices of key farm products such as cassava, rice and yam, despite rising production costs. He said many farmers who invested heavily through loans and cooperative schemes are now unable to recover their expenses.
Lawmakers blamed the situation on weak storage systems, poor market access and the absence of structured off-take arrangements, noting that these gaps are worsening post-harvest losses and exposing farmers to market shocks.
The House warned that if left unresolved, the trend could discourage agricultural investment, reduce productivity and threaten national food security, even as consumers continue to face high food prices in urban markets.
Following the debate, lawmakers urged relevant agencies to develop price stabilisation mechanisms, improve storage and processing infrastructure, and strengthen market linkages to protect farmers and reduce volatility in the sector.
They also mandated an investigation into the persistent decline in farm-gate prices, with a report expected within two weeks.