The 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
