Nigeria Cassava Growers Association says the unending attacks by
herdsmen on farmers and their products nationwide, is largely
responsible for the scarcity in cassava products such as Garri and Fufu
and the increase in prices of these food items.
In the last two months,
there have been over 100% increase in the prices of staple foods such as
Garri, Fufu and others.
A paint bucket of Garri which used to go for N400, now goes for N1000 or more, depending on the location.
According
to the farming body, the attacks by the herdsmen have left farmers
scared of going back to their farms, leading to a low turnover of these
products. The group’s president, Segun Adewumi disclosed this when he
spoke at a function in Lagos recently.
“It has been a very difficult time for cassava farmers in Nigeria
because of the incessant attacks by herdsmen, who make it difficult for
them to go to their farms. Farmers are afraid to go and cultivate. Some
farmers have lost their lives for venturing into the farms. All that the
farmers had were lost to these attackers, and that really affected
production of cassava” he said