Kyari Says Some Food Prices Have Dropped by Half Since 2023

(Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari. Photo by Instablog)

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says the prices of some essential food items have fallen by as much as 50 per cent compared with what they were before 2023.

He said this on Monday in Maiduguri at the opening of a Community of Practice Meeting for commissioners in charge of agriculture, health, environment and rural development from across Nigeria.

The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with the Borno State Government, and it was backed by the German government.

Its theme is Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria, and it focuses on boosting food production and food security.

Kyari said the Federal Government wants to grow food production, make food cheaper, strengthen rural economies and build a stronger food system.

He said prices of some key food items have dropped by up to 50 per cent, along with more farm inputs reaching farmers, investment in rural infrastructure and support for small farmers.

The minister said President Bola Tinubu's government has made food security a top priority.

He urged Nigerians to judge its performance using data and not politicise the high cost of living.

He asked how much a bag of rice and maize cost in 2023 compared with now, and said people should not play politics with such issues.

Kyari said the meeting will also look at the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2035.

He said the framework covers food production, investment, financing, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, climate resilience and better governance.

He added that Nigeria has already put together and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to deliver on its commitments under the framework.