In
this post, we will look at the factors causing high food prices in Nigeria and
possible solutions to these problems.
Human biological systems require food along with oxygen from the air to function normally. This is a free gift from God.
The importance of food to humans cannot
be emphasized or ignored. When food is metabolized and digested in the body, it
provides the calories needed for energy for daily activities. But again, not
all foods are available or grown as a single plant. This means that food is a
mixture of different components called food ingredients or foods.
The
factors leading to high food prices in Nigeria are high transport costs, fuel rises,
lack of
good road, multiple collection points, severe traffic congestion, high farm
maintenance costs, import duties and taxes, high export rate, high cost of
fertilizers, outbreak of plant diseases etc.
To benefit from the many health benefits that food can bring, your diet must be balanced. This should cover all or most of the important nutrient categories.
If the nutritious foods that balance our diet are unavailable or too expensive
for low-income people to buy, it becomes a problem not only for a household,
but for the entire nation. . .
Nigeria
is a country with good land for agriculture and water supply What are the
factors affecting the increase in food prices? The answer to this question is
what we will discuss in this article.
Factors Responsible for High Food Costs in Nigeria
The
following factors listed and explained below are those that play a significant
role in the high cost of food in Nigeria.
• High Transport
Costs
The
food production process does not end when a crop produces fruits, leaves, seeds
or tubers or when processed foods are successfully preserved. The food
production process ends when the food reaches the final consumer.
Transportation
is needed to transport food from farms or industries to warehouses and
wholesalers who distribute it to stores across the country. There are many
other substances that contribute to high transportation costs. These factors
can be recognized as follows
• Fuel Rises
Trucks
and vans do not work with water and require crude oil or diesel. Now, this
essential item is either precious or rare. Of course, fuel shortages lead to
higher fuel prices. Rising fuel prices lead to significant increases in food
prices.
• Lack of Good Road
The
driver who moves this food finished in another geographical area of the
country connects the land to take into account the cost of recovery of
vehicles. This is a direct road and has all the opportunities to think about
the price of such an article.
• Multiple
Collection Points
Drivers
must arrange for more than one person to carry these foods. These payments are
made in cash rather than in kind. If the driver has to pay these people out of
pocket, they should receive an amount that covers the amount they will spend
because of this particular factor. Like any other factor, this increases the
price of such an item.
•
Severe Traffic Congestion
You
might be wondering what corporate traffic congestion has to do with high food
costs, but surprisingly, it also plays a role, as we'll explain here. When a
driver who previously transported goods three or more times a day is asked to
transport goods in a place where the roads are extremely congested. He
understands that due to the large number of vehicles no more than three
deliveries are made per day.
They
might want to cover the missed opportunity by charging a higher fee for the
job. This adds to the cost of the transported item.
In
conclusion, it can be seen that anything that contributes to higher shipping
costs will increase the price of the transported item. Because no manufacturer,
wholesaler, retailer or farmer can afford to take losses to feed the country.
So,
we factor in shipping costs, which explains why some things are cheaper in
certain areas. But it's expensive elsewhere.
• High
Farm Maintenance Costs
Whether it's an animal or a plant, it costs money to take care of it. In agricultural crops, the farmer must control pests by using pesticides. Nutrients must be supplied to plants in the form of fertilizers, labor and other factors.
For
animals, it is necessary to determine the treatment of sick animals,
replacement of bedding and other factors. If the cost of this material is
pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer or medicine. This can increase foods.
• Import
Duties and Taxes
Higher
import duties or taxes on raw materials needed to produce food increase the
price of the product.
• High Export
Rate
In
an interview with Minister Lai Mohammed on why food prices are high, he
explained that there is a high demand for our grains and cereals from other
parts of Africa and farmers cannot be stopped, especially because of the ECOWAS
protocol. Free movement of goods and services. He also said that there were
over 130 billion people from the agricultural exports of a -nine in the second
quarter of this year. If there is a high rate of exports, there is no doubt
that the impact on the high price of food is not doubtful.
• High
Cost of Fertilizers
Fertilizers
are very important agricultural inputs for supplementing or replenishing soil
deficiencies. Fertilizer prices have been steadily increasing since the 1990s.
This increase in prices is very harmful to farmers as it indirectly decreases
and reduces the productivity of the crops grown. Increasing fertilizer prices
will lead to higher prices for the crops harvested or the fruits that use them.
• Outbreak
of Plant Diseases
Controlling
and treating disease centers in crops and livestock requires a lot of money. In
some cases, despite treatment, farmers unfortunately still suffer loss of crops
and livestock. This also affects the selling price of that item.
Solutions to the High Food Prices in Nigeria
Now
that you've successfully identified the factors driving up your food costs,
let's look at possible solutions you can implement.
1.
Factors causing high transmission rates
must be considered and addressed. Oil prices must be stabilized at a level favorable
to the people. The roads leading to this area must be repaired and adapted to
human traffic. Collection centers should be reduced to at least two or three.
This
helps reduce transport costs by reducing the burden on drivers.
In
areas with severe traffic congestion, overpasses or alternative roads should be
built. Pedestrian bridges should be built to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
2.
Governments should subsidize the basic materials needed to grow food. These
include pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides. Fertilizers are now subsidized
by the state.
3.
Import duties and taxes on raw materials required for production must be
removed.
4.
The government must work with farmers to limit the export of food ingredients.
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