The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to urgently introduce policies aimed at stabilising the prices of agricultural produce, amid rising concerns over losses being recorded by farmers nationwide.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Osun State, Bamidele Salam, during plenary.
Presenting the motion, Salam described agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, stressing its importance to job creation, rural livelihoods, food security, and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.
He, however, raised concerns over a worsening trend in the commodities market.
He stated, “There has been a persistent sharp decline in the prices of farm produce across the country, affecting staple crops and perishable agricultural commodities such as cassava, rice, and yams, among others.”
Salam warned that farmers are already bearing heavy losses due to their significant investments in production.
The lawmaker said the situation “has resulted in monumental financial losses to farmers who invested heavily in farm inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals, transportation, and labour, often financed through loans and cooperative schemes.”
He attributed the challenge to structural gaps in the agricultural value chain, particularly in post-harvest management.
He noted, “The House observes that the absence of structured off-taking mechanisms, inadequate storage facilities, weak agro-processing capacity, and poor market linkages have exacerbated post-harvest losses and deepened farmers’ vulnerability to market fluctuations.”
Salam cautioned that if left unresolved, the trend could severely damage the agricultural sector and national food security.
“We are worried that, if left unaddressed, falling farm prices could drive farmers out of business, cut agricultural investment and productivity, and worsen rural apathy toward farming, thereby threatening national food security through food shortages, price inflation, and greater reliance on imports,” he said.
He also highlighted the broader social and nutritional implications.
He added that the consequences “extend to national nutrition outcomes, as disruptions in agricultural production and supply chains may limit access to affordable and nutritious food, thereby worsening malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly among vulnerable populations.”
Following unanimous approval of the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside relevant agencies, to “urgently design and implement remedial measures by establishing structured off-taking arrangements and price support mechanisms to cushion the adverse effects of the sharp decline in farm produce prices on farmers in the country.”
Lawmakers also called for improved storage systems, processing capacity, and market infrastructure, including expanded strategic grain reserves and agro-processing zones, to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise prices.
They further tasked the government to “develop sustainable agricultural price stabilisation policies and frameworks that will protect farmers’ investments, enhance productivity, and guarantee fair returns on agricultural produce.”
The House also mandated its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the root causes of the persistent fall in farm-gate prices and report back within two weeks.
The resolution comes amid a recurring imbalance in Nigeria’s food system, where consumers face high food prices in urban areas while farmers struggle with low farm-gate prices due to oversupply and weak market structures.
