FG Acts to Curb High Onion Prices

According to the Federal Government, certain farmers’ unscrupulous tactics are to blame for the onion crisis plaguing Nigeria’s market.
This was reportedly said by Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, following a meeting with the Nigerian National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association (NOPPMAN) on Monday.
He said that although the meeting was spontaneous, it was required to discuss the concerning reports that there could be a 40% deficit in onion production this season, mostly due to the transfer of tainted seeds to farmers.
According to Kyari, investigations revealed that a NOPPMAN member was in charge of providing inferior seeds to marketplaces.

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“I applaud the association for taking the initiative to address this matter by locating the offender and turning him over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for examination and responsibility.

“We discussed and decided on both short-term and long-term solutions to lessen the impact of this crisis, including the urgent distribution of high-quality seeds and fertilizers to affected farmers,” he said.

In order to minimize post-harvest loss, the government intends to build state-of-the-art onion storage facilities, the Minister of Agriculture clarified.

That would assist ensure sufficient and solve the product’s high cost, he noted.

In order to minimize post-harvest losses and guarantee a steady supply for the market, we are also expediting plans to build contemporary storage facilities. To increase onion preservation, creative approaches were also investigated, including the use of rice straws for packaging and better cold storage methods.

“We are giving warehouses top priority in order to hold available harvests and guarantee effective distribution, given the imminent market ramifications of the onion shortage. In the upcoming months, these actions will aid in keeping prices and supply stable,” he said.