Nigerian Farmers Explore Options as Maize Prices Tumble

News in brief:

-Nigerian farmers facing huge losses from falling maize prices are shifting to selling fresh maize directly to roadside vendors, avoiding costs tied to bagging and transport.

-The trend highlights how farmers and consumers are adapting to economic hardship, with roasted and boiled maize becoming a cheaper food option for many households.

The sharp drop in the price of maize, one of Nigeria’s most consumed staples, is forcing farmers to rethink how they survive in a tough agricultural season. With prices at record lows, many maize farmers are turning to a new lifeline, selling fresh maize directly to roadside vendors who roast or boil it for eager consumers.

For many farmers who have spent heavily on fertiliser and other inputs, this shift is more than survival; it is a chance to stay afloat in a year where the odds are stacked against them.

Maize Prices Plummet, Farmers Seek Alternatives

Across Nigeria, maize is a daily food staple, used in everything from pap (ogi) to animal feed. However, this season, a 100kg bag of maize has dropped to below ₦50,000, while farmers spent as much as ₦70,000 on fertiliser alone. Normally, such a crash means huge losses, but farmers are finding relief in the booming demand for fresh maize.

Instead of drying, bagging, and transporting maize to markets, processes that come with extra costs, farmers now sell freshly harvested cobs to vendors who roast or boil them by the roadside.

“This year’s harvest would have been a disaster for us,” said Mallam Aminu Aliyu Bello, a Kano-based farmer with over two decades of experience. “The crash in maize price scared everyone. But with the high demand for fresh maize, we are selling quickly and reducing losses. It is moving impressively for us.”

A Changing Face of the Maize Roasting Trade

Traditionally seen as women’s work, the roasting and boiling of maize has now attracted young men, and even elderly Nigerians, who see it as a way to earn a living. In places like Kano, stalls with roasted or boiled maize are springing up daily, often run by young men combining both trades.

At Karfi Maize Depot in Kano, retailers, both men and women, were seen buying in bulk and serving long queues of customers. For many, roasted maize is cheaper than cooked meals, and with economic hardship biting, demand is only rising.

One retailer, Mrs Sarah, said the trade is changing. “Fresh maize is cheaper now, selling between ₦30,000 and ₦35,000 a bag. But more people have joined the roasting business, so competition is tougher,” she explained.

Farmers Save Costs, Consumers Find Cheaper Meals

By selling fresh maize, farmers avoid expenses tied to threshing, bagging, and transportation. At the same time, Nigerians with low purchasing power are finding roasted or boiled maize to be an affordable substitute for regular meals.

“Instead of bagging maize and selling at a loss, we sell fresh maize directly. The demand is strong and we don’t waste money on extra costs,” said Hamza Haruna Bagwai, another Kano farmer.

Young Nigerians are also embracing the trade. Gregory Yerima, a student, said: “I started roasting maize to raise money for my school fees. In just one month, I made enough to cover them.”

Expert View: Necessity Breeds Innovation

Agricultural experts say the trend is a natural response to Nigeria’s economic realities. Malam Basheer Dauda, an agricultural economist, explained that rising input costs and weak purchasing power have forced farmers and consumers alike to adapt.

“This is a perfect example of necessity driving innovation. Farmers are finding ways to cut their losses, and consumers are choosing roasted maize because it is affordable,” Dauda noted.

He added that while the fresh maize trend may be seasonal, it highlights how Nigerian farmers are adapting to climate change and farming challenges, including rising costs of fertiliser, fuel, and unpredictable market prices.