Nigerian Rice Farmers Demand Action as Imports Slash Prices by N13,000 per Bag
Local rice farmers in Nigeria are raising urgent alarms as a deluge of imported rice continues to devastate the domestic agricultural sector, with prices plummeting by as much as N13,000 per 50kg bag. This crisis, driven by the Federal Government's 2024 import duty waiver on rice and other essential goods, is pushing farmers to the brink of collapse and jeopardizing the nation's food self-sufficiency goals.
Import Surge and Soaring Costs Force Farmers Out of Business
In interviews conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, April 19, 2026, farmers detailed the dire situation. Mr. Sakin Agbayewa, Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and a rice farmer, described a grim reality. "With the renewal of the import waiver, tonnes of rice are flooding in," he stated. "It's crippling local cultivation and driving farmers out of business." He highlighted multiple compounding crises, including erratic climate patterns that have reduced yields and the ongoing Iran-Israel-US conflict, which has spiked global fertilizer prices, making production costs unaffordable for many.
Agbayewa explained that farmers need to sell at N60,000 to N65,000 per bag to break even, but importers are selling at N40,000 due to massive shipments of 100,000 metric tonnes. "How can we compete? Local production has dropped significantly, and without urgent capacity-building, the entire sector risks total collapse," he warned.
State Leaders Echo Despair and Call for Government Intervention
Mr. Raphael Hunsa, Lagos State Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, echoed the distress, noting that rice farming has become unpredictable. "Most of us are just managing. Many cannot even afford fertilizer, let alone break even. There is no enabling environment," he said. Hunsa accused the government of failing to deliver promised support, arguing that if local farmers were adequately backed, importers would have no market. He added that some farmers are forced to sell at rock-bottom prices just to feed their families, with no profit in sight.
Traders Confirm Dramatic Price Crash in Markets
Rice trader Mrs. Tolu Ajiboye in Agege Market confirmed the sharp price decline. She reported that around Easter, a 50kg bag sold for N61,000 to N63,000, but now prices have fallen to N51,000 to N55,000, depending on the brand. "Local rice doesn't stand a chance," she said. "Some producers have resorted to rebagging their rice in foreign sacks just to sell it. The market is flooded with cheaper imports, and for now, consumers are enjoying the affordability, but the future of our local farmers hangs in the balance."
Urgent Need for Intervention as Planting Season Approaches
As the planting season nears, Nigeria's rice farmers stand at a critical crossroads. Without swift government action to protect local production, cushion input costs, and restore market balance, many fear the nation's dream of self-sufficiency could vanish, along with the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the crop. The situation underscores the need for policies that balance affordability for consumers with support for domestic agriculture to ensure long-term food security.
