The prices of both old and new maize have significantly increased in Katsina markets, raising hope for farmers. Normally, when a new farm produce arrives, it either crashes or stagnates the market price of the old produce but this year as it regards to maize, the story is a different one, according to the farmers.

There was massive production of maize in the state last year, a situation that resulted in its market price oscillating between N7,000 and N8,000 within the space of eight to nine months. Surprisingly, however, at this period when new maize is available in the market, the price of the old one continues to increase, rising to N9,000.

Mal. Umar Almu, a maize farmer in Kankara LGA, said they were happy that despite the border closure, new maize is sold at N6,000 while the old is sold for between N8,700 and N9,000. “From all indications, there is light at the end of the tunnel for maize farmers this year. If new one can now sell at N6,000 despite border closure, only God knows how much it would be sold when it is exported to our neighbouring countries,” he said. He added that farmers were groaning because they bought fertilizer at a high cost of N8,000 this year. “Decline in maize production this year is what mainly factored in the rise in price and it will continue to as what is mostly supplied to the markets by farmers now is rice,” said Umar Almu. Abdullahi Yaro, a maize merchant, said the price of the produce would come down in the next two to three weeks before it will rise again. “When the harvest finishes, the price of the produce will come down before it will pick up again. Because not much of it was produced this year, its demand would be higher than that of last year, especially after our borders are opened,” he noted. He added that even the rice that was massively produced this year will not experience glut due to its high demand. “Just imagine, despite how maize is flooding the markets, its price is still in the range of N8,000 to N9,000,” Abdullahi Yaro added.

SOURCE: DAILY TRUST