The Benue State Government in Nigeria has announced plans to begin purchasing excess oranges from farmers by December, following a sharp decline in farmgate prices and the lack of adequate storage infrastructure.
Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed the initiative during a meeting with church elders and traditional rulers in Gboko, highlighting the challenges facing fruit growers across the state. A 100-kilogram bag of oranges currently sells for as low as ₦1,000 (US$0.66) on farms, a drop linked to oversupply and limited options for processing and preservation.
Many farmers are forced to sell their fruit directly from their farms due to the perishable nature of oranges, which makes transporting them to distant markets risky, especially when buyers delay purchases. According to the governor, traders and intermediaries often exploit producers by waiting until late in the day to purchase fruit at low prices. "They keep farmers waiting all day and only buy in the evenings at giveaway prices. They profit while our farmers suffer," he said.
The planned intervention follows the recent test-run of the Benfruit Orange Juice Factory, managed by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC). The facility, recently rehabilitated by the state government, is expected to process and preserve oranges to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise local market dynamics.
An orange grower, Mr. Aondona Ayua-Jov, welcomed the plan, calling it "a timely relief." He reported having more than 100 unsold bags of oranges despite offering them at ₦1,000 (US$0.66) per bag.
Farmers in Benue, often described as Nigeria's "food basket," expect that the government's mopping-up exercise will help stabilise prices, reduce losses from unsold produce, and limit the impact of intermediaries on farmgate earnings.
Source: Idoma Voice
