Taraba State Grapples with Soaring Food Prices: Residents Cry Out
By Haruna Abdullahi
Taraba State, located in the northeastern part of Nigeria, is known for its rich agricultural land and abundant natural resources.
However, despite the state’s potentials for food production, it is currently facing a severe crisis of high food prices, leaving many residents, struggling to afford basic staples.
A visit to the popular Kasuwan tudu market in Jalingo the state capital, revealed the alarming situation where the prices of staple foods such as rice, beans, maize, and vegetables have skyrocketed, making it difficult for many residents to afford them.
“We are finding it very difficult to buy food for our families,”
“The prices of foodstuffs have increased beyond our reach. A bag of rice that used to cost Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00) now costs One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) How can we afford it?”, said Mrs. Aisha Abdullahi, a trader at the market.
Mr. Emmanuel John, a civil servant, expressed similar concerns. “I have a family of six, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to feed them. Even though the salary has been increased, the prices of foodstuffs escalated beyond the salary increase”.
We also spoke with Alh. Usman, Secretary of the Taraba State Chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), who attributed the high prices of foodstuffs to the lack of adequate government support for farmers.
“The governments needs to provide support for farmers in terms of inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment,”
“The governments also needs to provide security for farmers to enable them to go back to their farms. Until these issues are addressed, the prices of foodstuffs will continue to rise,” Alhaji Sani said.
In response to the crisis, the Taraba State government has established a committee to investigate the causes of the high food prices and recommend solutions. The government has also promised to provide support for farmers and to explore alternative sources of food supply.
However, for many residents of Taraba State, the situation remains dire. As Mrs. Abdullahi aptly put it, “We are crying out for help. The government needs to do something urgently to address this crisis. We cannot continue to suffer like this.”
