Nigeria's onion industry is feeling the pinch of the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) sanctions on Niger. According to Malam Aliyu Isa, the national president of the Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, the sanctions are causing a significant financial loss for Nigeria.
Isa explained the situation in an interview, discussing the factors contributing to the rising onion prices in Nigeria and potential solutions. He attributed the price increase to several factors.
Many onion farmers abandoned their farms due to the difficulties in accessing inputs, leading to a reduced onion harvest in 2023. The shortage of onions drove up prices, with costs continuing to rise rapidly. A supply shortfall in Kano and Sokoto states further exacerbated the situation.
Isa also highlighted the challenges of meeting domestic onion demand and the need for export, despite the country's production falling short of demand. He noted that the inability to preserve their produce leads to significant post-harvest losses. The closure of borders with the Niger Republic has further compounded the problems for the onion industry.
Source: von.gov.ng