Farmers Warn of Rising Food Prices in 2025 Amidst Urgent Challenges Facing Agriculture

By Adejumo Adekunle –

The Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has raised alarms about the potential for escalating food prices in 2025 if pressing issues affecting farmers are not addressed.

Farmers shared their concerns on Wednesday in Abuja during the SWOFON FCT State Level Interactive Forum, held in celebration of the International Day of Rural Women and World Food Day. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, World Food Day, recognized annually on October 16, commemorates the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 1945. This year’s theme is “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future.”

The forum was organized by SWOFON in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria as part of the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project.

Among the challenges highlighted by the farmers were insecurity, conflicts between farmers and herders, limited access to credit, land, irrigation systems, and issues with post-harvest losses and mechanization.

Mrs. Comfort Sunday, Coordinator of SWOFON’s FCT Chapter, emphasized that World Food Day should signify food abundance for everyone. Unfortunately, she noted that many Nigerians currently struggle to afford a daily meal.

Sunday underscored the vital role of smallholder women farmers in achieving food and nutrition security in the nation, expressing that their needs often go overlooked. She also pointed out challenges such as land grabbing, ownership disputes, theft, and inadequate extension services as significant barriers to their success.