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By MAGAJI ISA HUNKUYI
As the harvest season commences in Taraba State, the prices of food crops have fallen to a historic low in recent years, placing many farmers in a precarious situation.
Our correspondent gathered that in parts of Gashaka, Bali, Donga and Gassol local government areas, a 100kg bag of newly harvested maize is sold at the rate of N15,000 to N17,000.
Similarly, a 100kg bag of groundnut has come down from N40,000 to N25,000, while 100kg of newly harvested melon (Agushi) is now sold for N45,000 as against N90,000 sold a few months ago.
Daily Trust gathered that the price of sesame seeds has come down from N110,000 to N55,000 following a bumper harvest being witnessed by farmers in the state.
The dangers of a misreported fact
The price of both yellow and white garri has also come down from N100,000 to an average of N45,000 to N50,000.
Our correspondent further gathered that the price of old stock maize has further crashed across the state.
In Bali, Jatau, Maihula, Suntai, Garbabi and Garba_Chede markets, a 100 kg bag of old stock maize is now sold at the rate of N24,000 to N26,000.
Prices of white beans have also come down to N60,000 as against N90,000, while that of soya beans crashed from N80,000 to N45,000.
Similarly, prices of crops like millet, sorghum, cassava flour and tubers have crashed in the state.
A large-scale farmer, Saidu Garba, said he and other farmers have harvested their melon and sesame.
He said that although harvests have been great, prices are nightmares to many farmers, considering the amount of investment made during cultivation.
According to Garba, there were fewer middlemen this year than in past years when they came in large numbers to purchase farm produce, and the lack of customers has caused the prices of recently harvested commodities to plummet even more.
The farmer said that they have no choice but to carry on with their traditional profession despite the dip in the prices of agricultural products.
He expressed regret that the government has not provided practical farmers with subsidised farm inputs.(DailyTrust)
