Nigeria suspends food import duties and partners with states to boost agricultural production

The Nigerian Federal Government has announced a 150-day duty-free import window for essential food commodities, aiming to combat rising inflation and food insecurity. This move comes as part of the Presidential Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan to address the country’s economic challenges.

Key Points:

1. Duty-free imports for maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas
2. The government will import 250,000 metric tonnes each of wheat and maize.
3. Collaboration with state governments to expand land cultivation
4. Focus on supporting smallholder farmers and boosting domestic production.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, outlined the government’s strategy:

“We’re implementing a multi-faceted approach to tackle food inflation, which currently stands at 40.66%. Our goal is to improve both the affordability and availability of essential food items.”

The plan includes:

1. Suspending duties, tariffs, and taxes on food imports through land and sea borders
2. Targeting supplies to small-scale processors and millers nationwide
3. Implementing a Recommended Retail Price for Imported Food Commodities
4. Enhancing domestic production capabilities for long-term food security

Additional measures include:

1. Collaborating with state governments to identify irrigable lands
2. Accelerating dry-season farming
3. Promoting agricultural mechanisation to reduce production costs
4. Engaging youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops
5. Partnering with the military to cultivate arable land under the Defence Farms Scheme

Industry Reactions:

Dele Oye, President of NACCIMA, praised the initiative but cautioned against undermining domestic production.

“While we applaud these measures, it’s crucial to engage stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to prevent Nigeria from becoming a dumping ground for commodities where we have reasonable self-sufficiency.”

Dr. Ikenna Nwosu of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group called it “a justifiable temporary stabilisation measure to meet market demand imperatives.”

Segun Kuti-George, National Vice President of NASSI, emphasised the need for long-term solutions:

“We must boost our agri-production by funding the sector, improving security for farmers, and providing modern tools for large-scale cultivation.”

Challenges and Recommendations:

1. Improve infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
2. Enhance storage and preservation facilities.
3. Invest in processing capabilities to add value to agricultural products.
4. Address security concerns in farming communities.
5. Provide better access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses.

While the duty-free import window offers short-term relief, experts stress the importance of strengthening domestic agricultural production for sustainable food security in Nigeria.