Lawmakers warn cheap food imports are hurting local producers and threatening food security
The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently reduce the cost of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs, warning that soaring input prices and falling farm-gate prices are putting farmers’ livelihoods at risk.
The resolution followed a motion raised during plenary by Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central).
While commending the Federal Government for easing food prices through import waivers and special permissions for large-scale importation of consumables, Goje cautioned that the policy has created unintended consequences for local farmers.
He noted that although food prices have declined in urban markets, the cost of farm inputs, particularly fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides remains prohibitively high.
“While the prices of farm produce have been going down, that of farm inputs has remained extremely high,” Goje said.
He added that the imbalance has triggered significant post-harvest losses, as farmers are unable to sell their produce at profitable rates, leading to wastage, spoilage and declining incomes.
According to the former Gombe State governor, the trend poses a serious threat to domestic food production, rural economies and national food security, while also exposing the country to global price volatility and foreign exchange pressures.
Goje warned that sustained declines in farm-gate prices could discourage farmers from investing in the next planting season, deepening food insecurity and poverty in rural communities.
The motion was seconded by Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North), who described the high cost of fertilisers and other farm inputs as “alarming” and in urgent need of government intervention.
‘Over 60% of Nigerians depend on agriculture’
Contributing to the debate, Mohammed Dandutse (Katsina South) said more than 60 per cent of Nigerians depend on agriculture for survival, stressing that excessive reliance on food imports was undermining local production.
He argued that imported agricultural products often benefit from heavy subsidies in their countries of origin, placing Nigerian farmers at a disadvantage.
“Nigeria is blessed; we can feed Africa and the world, yet we rely on importation,” Dandutse said. “Why should we spend our foreign exchange importing food while empowering farmers in other countries?”
Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) urged lawmakers to strike a careful balance between making food affordable for consumers and protecting farmers’ welfare.
“We must strike a balance between these two realities,” he said, noting security challenges that already limit farmers’ access to farmlands.
Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North) also backed the motion, stressing the need for effective price regulation to stabilise agricultural markets.
From Lagos, Idiat Adebule (Lagos West) questioned the role of state governments in supporting federal agricultural policies, while Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) suggested that temporary border relaxation during shortages could help, provided farmers receive affordable inputs and stable pricing.
Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North) called on the Federal Government to complete and utilise abandoned silos across the country, proposing that they be used to purchase and store farmers’ produce to prevent losses.
Senate resolutions
Following the debate, the Senate resolved to:
- Urge the Federal Government to introduce broad-based subsidies for fertilisers and other critical farm inputs;
- Establish benchmark minimum prices and guaranteed off-take programmes to stabilise agricultural markets;
- Review import waivers and special permits to ensure Nigerian farm produce can compete fairly with imported food.
Lawmakers said the measures are necessary to protect farmers, sustain domestic food production and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
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