Agribusiness: Maize Farmers, Processors Condemn Maize Importation

Maize farmers and processors under the auspices of Maize Association of Nigeria, MAAN, Maize Growers, Farmers and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAGFAMAN, yesterday, condemned calls for maize importation into the country.
This was stated at a press conference by the National Presidents of the two associations, Dr Bello Abubakar, and Dr Edwin Uche, respectively.
Abubakar in his address pointed out that the call was made by Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, seeking authorised dealers and the general public to import maize grain from the official foreign exchange market.
According to him the call and agitation were sheer calculated attempts to further hinder maize production in Nigeria.
He further explained that the current high price of maize grains in the country was ephemeral as it was occasioned by the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic that struck and disrupted supply chains and increased the cost of inputs for many farming activities.
He also added that the increase in the price of the commodity was traceable to hoarding by some individuals, which resulted in artificial scarcity, and the effect currently bites hard on commercial and local consumers.
He said: “The agitation by some associations including the Poultry Association of Nigeria, seeking authorised dealers and the general public to import maize grain from the official foreign exchange market is seen as a calculated attempt to further hinder maize production in Nigeria.
“The current high price of maize grains in the country is ephemeral. It is occasioned by the COVID 19 Pandemic that disrupted supply chains and increased the cost of inputs for many farming activities.
“In addition, hoarding of maize grains by some commodity agents also resulted in artificial scarcity and attendant price hikes.
“According to the FAO, as many as ‘132 million people could face starvation as a result of economic recession triggered by the pandemic’.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as part of her developmental functions, has been striving hard to increase national production volumes of maize. The CBN policy of agriculture, small and medium enterprise scheme, and the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) have been very successful in opening up the agricultural sector in the country.
“Both policies have worked effectively in closing the productivity gap in the crop farming subsector. This effort should be appreciated and sustained.”
He also pointed out that the Federal Government through the CBN had graciously approved the release of 300,000MT of maize grains from the Strategic Grains Reserve (SGR) to alleviate the adverse effect of maize grain price hike and scarcity in the country and that any move to import the commodity will be a disincentive to the maize industry.
“Consequently, it is needless, counterpro-ductive, and unattainable to lift the ban on maize grains importation. Importation of maize grains into the country at this crucial period will serve as a disincentive to maize production, maize farmers and food chain system in the country”, he said.