Food Prices Still High? Minister Breaks Down the Real Problem

Nigeria's food production is up, so why are prices still burning a hole in your pocket? Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari has the answer, and it's not what you think.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has a clear message for Nigerians feeling the pinch at the market: we're growing more food than ever, but the real battle is happening after the harvest. In a candid chat with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Kyari explained that while the cost of food at the farm gate has dropped considerably, consumers aren't feeling the relief because of major gaps in processing and distribution.

“Let's go down memory lane and think about the figures in 2023 and 2024. When you look at those and compare them with what the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration have done, we are on the right track,” Kyari said.

The minister pointed to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showing a clear trend: production costs are down, but agro-processing costs remain stubbornly high. “However, even if you look at the NBS figures, you would see that agro-processing has not come down, but production has come down. Which means at the farm gate, prices have come down considerably,” he explained.

Why is Nigeria still importing food?

Kyari didn't shy away from the tough questions, attributing Nigeria's continued reliance on food imports to a mix of factors including rapid population growth, low agricultural productivity, limited land access, and high input costs.

“Due to certain factors, we've not been able to catch up in terms of the growth of population. We are growing on average about 8 to 9 million people every year. 25 years ago, we were half of what we are today, and 25 years from now, we will be double what we are,” the minister said.

He stressed that boosting productivity with quality seeds and subsidized inputs for farmers is key to closing this gap. “This is what we've been trying to do; we've been able to at least impact a lot of farmers to give them subsidized inputs and subsidized seeds,” he added.

What is the government doing to cut processed food imports?

The big move is to stop exporting raw materials and start adding value right here at home. Kyari highlighted the government's strategy to reduce dependence on processed food imports through mechanisation, local processing, and the ambitious Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ).

“If you recall the ban on the export of raw items like shea nuts, and so also we're looking at other areas and crops that we can reduce so that we add value,” Kyari stated. He confirmed that all eight SAPZ projects are set to come on stream before the end of next year, with a second phase already in the works for about 10 states. “What that seeks to do is production, aggregation, storage, processing, and marketing. So that SAPZ is also another mechanism of government that would help to reduce our dependence on processed food,” he said.

Are farmers returning to previously unsafe lands?

Yes, and it's making a massive difference. Kyari credited improved security for allowing farmers to reclaim farmlands that were previously off-limits due to insecurity.

“A lot of our farmlands that were hitherto not accessible in 2023 have now been accessed. In 2024, there was a massive bumper harvest, and in 2025, even more than 2024,” he revealed. “So, there's improvement in that regard. Obviously, government and the armed forces are doing a lot trying to liberate those farmlands that were hitherto under insecure areas.”

When will we see the 2026 harvest figures?

Mark your calendars for October or November. Kyari said the National Agricultural Extension Research Liaison Services, a collaboration with ABU Zaria, will release the figures after the rain-fed harvest. The government is also pushing for all-year-round farming, with data now expected at every harvest cycle.

“We are going to start doing that this year. So by October or November, we should be able to get those figures out, and also March for the first cycle of the dry season, and then June for the second cycle,” he said.

Will the 2026 harvest beat last year's bumper crop?

Absolutely, according to the minister. Kyari projected that the 2026 harvest would surpass 2025's bumper yield, citing improved productivity, stabilized input prices, and targeted government interventions.

“Actually, much more than that of 2025. There are challenges in terms of input prices, but we've been able to... Prices have come down and stabilized, and like I said, we're trying to see how we can balance the welfare of the citizenry and that of the farmers,” Kyari said.

He highlighted key support programs, including free fertilizer from the National Agricultural Development Fund and a 50% subsidy from the Bank of Agriculture.

Are the new tractors actually working?

Yes, they're on the field. Kyari confirmed that tractors from the Nigerian Agricultural Mechanisation Policy have been deployed, and the government is now tracking their performance to ensure maximum productivity.

“The tractors are on the field now, but of course, you won't see a tractor now because it's past land preparation. What we are tracking now is tractor performance. We want to see a tractor perform on at least 500 to 600 hectares per year,” he explained. “So when we have 2,000 tractors, it means we're looking at a million hectares easily for every year for land preparation.”

The message from Abuja is clear: the foundation is being laid, the harvests are growing, and the next step is making sure that success reaches your local market.