Beans: Common food slipping beyond average Nigerians

Published 2024년 9월 18일

Tridge summary

Beans, a staple food in Nigeria, have seen a significant price increase due to inflation, poor harvests, and regional security challenges, with the price of a 50kg bag of beans doubling in the past two years and tripling in the last year. This is due to high fertilizer costs and supply chain delays caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The situation threatens to make beans a luxury food item, leading to dietary changes and potential nutritional deficiencies. The Cowpea Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian government are working on solutions, including distribution of fertilizers and initiatives to procure tractors, and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture is developing a work plan to improve cowpea seed distribution to smallholder farmers. Experts recommend a comprehensive approach, including improving farming practices, strengthening supply chains, and supporting research into high-yield bean varieties to stabilize beans prices and boost local production.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Beans, once a staple and budget-friendly source of protein for many Nigerian families, have become increasingly rare on menu lists due to their rising prices. Historically a fundamental part of the diet for low- and middle-income households, the price of beans (cowpea) has recently skyrocketed, influenced by inflation, poor harvests and regional security challenges, which have impacted on agriculture. In July 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that bean prices soared to unprecedented levels creating widespread concern among consumers and farmers alike. The price of a 50kg bag of beans has more than doubled over the past two years, reflecting a dramatic increase of over 100 per cent in the last year alone. Beans, primarily grown in northern states like Borno, Gombe, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, is crucial to the Nigerian diet. Analysts say the rising cost of fertilisers, which rose by an average of 83 per cent across 13 African countries, and 111 per cent in ...

Source: Premiumtimesng