Local Farmers Raise Alarm Over Rice and Maize Imports Amid Falling Food Prices

Nigerian farmers are sounding the alarm as imported rice and maize flood local markets, leading to falling prices and a threat to homegrown agriculture. Many fear the government's current import-friendly policies are hurting the very backbone of the nation's food supply — its local farmers.

Last year, the Federal Government rolled out a 150-day import waiver that allowed rice, maize, and other staple foods into the country duty-free. While the policy aimed to reduce food prices and ease economic pressure on citizens, it’s now being criticized for its unintended consequences.

According to a market survey by Daily Post, a 50kg bag of locally produced rice now sells for ₦65,000–₦68,000, while maize is going for ₦35,000–₦37,000 per bag. Though cheaper than the ₦83,000 price tag on imported rice, local farmers are struggling to compete — and profits are drying up fast.

To make matters worse, fertilizer prices have surged, pushing up the cost of local food production. For many farmers, breaking even has become almost impossible.

"We’re being pushed out of business," one farmer posted on X (formerly Twitter), capturing the frustration of thousands. "Tinubu’s policy might be helping prices drop, but it's killing local agriculture."

Experts agree. Professor Godwin Oyedokun from Lead City University warns that over-reliance on cheap imports is a risky move.

“When the market is flooded with foreign goods, it creates an oversupply that forces prices down,” Oyedokun said in an interview. “Local farmers can't compete with imported products, especially when they face high input costs like fertilizer.”

He suggested several solutions to strike a balance between affordability and sustainability:

Support for Local Farmers: Through subsidies, access to credit, and modern farming tools.

Import Tariffs: To level the playing field and protect homegrown crops.

Market Access & Education: So farmers can reach buyers and adopt efficient methods.

Strict Quality Control: To ensure imported food doesn’t undercut local standards.

Despite the drop in general inflation to 22.22% in June 2025, food inflation remains high at 21.97%, showing that the root issues in the food supply chain haven’t gone away.

In the long run, farmers argue, relying on imported food might offer short-term relief but poses a threat to food security. They are urging the government to listen, act, and put Nigeria’s agricultural future first.