Despite
the gains recorded under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) initiated
by the minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina,
there is an indication that the prices of foodstuff have increased in the last
four years.
Surveys
carried out by LEADERSHIP in Utako, Dei Dei, Wuse and Garki markets revealed
that the price of foodstuff increased by 20% in 2015 up from 2012. This is even
as traders pleaded with the federal government, through the Ministry of
Agriculture, to hasten their promise of guaranteeing food sufficiency in
Nigeria.
A
trader who identified herself as Madam Queen Imeh sells rice at Utako market.
Giving a breakdown on the prices of the food items, she said, "A big bag
of Mama Gold rice, Caprice and Stallion sold for N9000, N9000 and N8, 500 in
2012 but in 2015, they sell for N10, 500, N9, 800 and N9, 500 respectively.
"For
small bags of Stallion Rice, Mama Gold and Caprice, they sold for N4500, N4700 and
N4700 in 2012 while in 2015, the same rice sells for N5200, N6000 and N5200
respectively."
She
encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture to provide incentives to farmers, saying
that it was the alternative to food security in the country.
Another
trader at Garki market, Mr Henry Igwe, who sells beans and garri, linked the
increase in the prices of foodstuff to the inability of youths to embrace full
scale agriculture, and poor incentives to farmers.
