Flooding: Food crisis looms

Many farmers in Nigeria and experts are beginning to count the costs after floods recently wreaked havoc across the country, bracing themselves for unprecedented food crisis in an economy yet to recover from the pangs of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Government said, at least 603 people have been killed in floods across the country, with more than 1.3 million persons displaced from their communities. Some of the states that reported deaths from floods include Kogi, Anambra, Kebbi, Delta, Bayelsa and Jigawa, with about 31 states said to have experienced flooding this year. Worrisome enough, virtually all the states harbour notable agrarian communities that can collectively be regarded as Nigeria’s food baskets.

 

Stakeholders raise red flag 

On the sidelines of an event organised by Spectra Industries Limited to mark this year’s World Food Day in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mr Duro Kuteyi, warned Nigerians to brace up for serious food crisis, following the flooding that recently ravaged the country.

The renowned industrialist and food processor called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, save Nigeria from imminent food crisis by urgently setting a workable agenda for food security in the country. He urged government to address the current challenge of banditry and flooding that have made life difficult for farmers.

The food processing expert, who particularly warned Nigerians of imminent food inflation, said the current rate of inflation would be child’s play to what would befall the citizens in 2023, if urgent measures were not taken to address the ravaging flooding.

According to forecasts, the intense floods that have ravaged most parts of Nigeria, which claimed over 600 lives, displaced more than 1.3 million persons, and destroyed nearly 110,000 hectares of farmland, have already pushed prices of various foodstuff beyond the reach of consumers.

Kingsley Mbamara, an economist, said, “Given the extant market situation, food prices have, in the last few weeks, gone beyond the reach of most Nigerians due to the unprecedented floods that ravaged most agrarian communities across Nigeria. 

“The situation is fast pushing Nigerians to food inflation, despite that many are still struggling to come out from the economic hardship they were pushed into by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.”

As gathered from Trading Economics, an online statistics platform that furnishes its users with information on economic indicators, exchange rates, stock market indexes, government bond yields and commodity prices, “Food inflation in Nigeria quickened for the seventh straight month to 23.34 per cent in September 2022 from 23.12 per cent the previous month. It was the highest reading since October 2005, partly due to supply disruptions caused by recent widespread flooding and as a weaker currency continued to boost costs of imported food (18 per cent against 17.9 per cent in August). 

“Higher prices were mainly observed for staples, including bread and cereals, potatoes, yam and other tubers, as well as oils and fats. Monthly, food prices went up by 1.43 per cent, slowing from a 1.98 per cent rise in the previous month, attributed to a reduction in prices of some items like tubers, palm oil, maize, beans and vegetables due to the ongoing harvest season.”

 

Food inflation?

Food Inflation is the rise of prices that causes a decline in the purchasing power of the consumer and producer while all other factors remain constant. It is the rate at which the prices of food items increase. Numerous factors can impact food supply and the prices. It is vital to look at the increase in prices and the increase in the median income compared to food costs.

Ostensibly answering the question of whether consumers are heading toward experiencing food inflation due to the floods, particularly across agrarian communities, Clifford Ebiowei said, “Nigerians are experiencing an upsurge in food prices. Beef, eggs and beans are rapidly rising, as the flooding exacerbated the country’s poor agricultural circumstances.

“The cost of food in Nigeria has risen dramatically for families. Market experts have warned that these high costs will continue to rise since farming has become unsustainable mainly due to flooding. Food stuff prices, such as rice, beans and vegetables are at high levels, as consumer demand rises. Other items, including fish, poultry and milk remain variable due to transportation and processing challenges.”

Seemingly due to the disruption of the food supply chain as a result of predominant floods each time it rains in most parts of the country, the prices of agro foods are becoming unaffordable for most households.

Market prices of foodstuff are increasing. For instance, fresh tomato market price is fast increasing with each passing day, ostensibly as a result of the prevailing flood. If you want to buy fresh tomatoes in Nigeria.  At Mile 12 Market in Lagos State a 25kg basket of fresh tomatoes sells from N21,500 to N25,000. At Umuahia Main Market in Abia State, a 40kg basket sells from N50,000 to N57,000.

In a similar vein, a 40kg basket of fresh tomatoes at Anchau Market in Kaduna State sells from N40,000 to N50,000. At Gboko Main Market in Venue State, it sells for N40,000 to N50,000 and at Ughelli Main Market in Delta, it sells from N50,000 to N55,500.

 

Food prices and flooding

As of the first week into the month of November, the price of a 50kg bag of local rice in Nigeria soared by 53.6 per cent in two months on the heels of the floods. As gathered from a survey of some markets in Lagos, the local rice brand sells for N43,000, up from N28,000 in September, while the foreign brand rose to N45,000 from N31,000.

Experts have attributed the price fluctuation to the disruption of the supply chain in the agro sector occasioned by the flooding. In fact, there are strong indications that the prices of food items may continue to rise due to the flooding.

Farmers in different parts of the country have lamented that the floods depleted the volume of their investments, raising the alarm that if the government fails to intervene, there would be food crisis in 2023.

Also, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, revealed that the flood led to the death of over 500 persons, with about 45,249 houses and 70,566 hectares of farmland destroyed.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sani Gwarzo, told journalists that the flood was comparable only to the 2012 flood in terms of human dislocation, livelihood disruption, infrastructure damage and environmental dislocation.

He said the National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that as of October 9, the water level at Lokoja and Makurdi along Rivers Niger and Benue was 11 per cent above that of 2012.

 

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