ISAAC ASABOR
Once a staple food that sustained countless Nigerian families, Garri has now transformed into a luxury item.
The soaring prices of this cassava flour have left citizens scrambling to feed their families, and the reasons behind this dramatic shift are multifaceted.
As the prices of the once staple food in diverse measures surge, report has it that in March 2024, it witnessed a staggering 108 percent hike in price. What was once an affordable lifeline for the average Nigerian family has now slipped further away from their grasp, and almost becoming unaffordable to a wide spectrum of the consumer population.
Lateef Amogbonjaiye, a Lagos State resident, paints a grim picture of the rising cost of living.
He explained that the price of a 4-litre bucket of Garri has nearly tripled in the past year, jumping from N1, 200 to N3, 000. For a father of four like Amogbonjaiye, this price surge forces difficult choices.
He often prioritises his family’s needs over his own, sometimes going to bed hungry while his children share what little Garri they have.
As to the reasons behind the prevailing price increase of the once cheap food, analyst are unanimously pointing at several factors that are contributing to the Garri price surge.
For instance, not a few respondents who were recently engaged in a staggered parley by Daily Independent unanimously agreed that insecurity and transportation costs are contributing to the challenge.
Buttressing their common views, they noted that insecurity disrupts transportation networks, leading to higher costs for moving goods. As a result, the price of Garri has risen significantly.
In a similar vein, they added that cassava glut is also making the problem worse, noting that despite the high prices that farmers are reluctant to cultivate cassava in large quantities due to a glut, explaining that this scarcity drives up the cost of Garri, affecting low-income Nigerians who rely on it as a dietary staple.
Fred Lawoyin, an Agro expert, points out that improper storage and transportation play a significant role in price increases of Garri, adding that as overall inflation rises, consumers buy the food item in smaller quantities, sacrificing nutrients for bulk and density.
Mrs. Adebisi Sanni, a Garri trader at Mowe Market in Ogun, echoes the same sentiment as been reverberated by not a few people, describing Garri as a luxury her family now struggles to afford.
The way they consumed Garri last year is different from today.
She said: “Before, we would take some to “cool down” before cooking a proper meal, but that is no longer feasible. The rising prices have made it difficult for me to give Garri to those in need as I used to do when it was cheaper”.
Without a doubt, Garri, once a symbol of resilience and sustenance, now reflects the harsh realities faced by Nigerians.
As the country grapples with economic challenges, consumers find themselves caught in the crossfire of rising prices.
The golden hue of Garri has become a bittersweet reminder of how essential foods can slip beyond reach, leaving families hungry and struggling.
Paradoxically, cassava is one of Nigeria’s most common and essential staple crops, recognised as a 21st-century crop primarily for smallholder farmers.
Accounting for about 26% of global production, Nigeria is one of the largest producers of Cassava in the world, producing over 63 million tons of Cassava in 2021.
Despite this, Nigeria’s cassava industry has not achieved its full potential, its supply has been unable to meet its huge demand, and the country is yet to fully cash in on the global market for Cassava and its derivatives.
In fact, Garri, which is invariably a derivative of Cassava, and consumed nationwide as a staple food, has sustained generations, filling bellies and hearts alike, and has lately gone awry in this culinary equation.
This is as its price has soared to unprecedented heights, leaving consumers grappling with empty pockets and a gnawing hunger for answers.
A recent survey paints a stark picture: the average price of a 50kg bag of Yellow Garri surged by a staggering 108 percent in just three months. In December 2023, it stood at a modest N18, 000, but by March 2024, it had skyrocketed to N37, 500. Imagine the weight of that bag, literally and metaphorically, as families struggle to afford this once-affordable staple.
To put the situation in a literarily tone, the Garri pot, once a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness, now simmers with anxiety.
Without a doubt, Nigeria wears the crown of cassava production, churning out a staggering 60.8 million metric tonnes in 2022, according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
Yet, paradoxically, scarcity looms large. Climate change, political uncertainty, and insecurity have conspired against cassava farmers, turning their fields into battlegrounds.
In fact, as cassava output declines, the cost of Garri has skyrocketed.
In just three months, prices have surged by 108%, reaching an all-time high. A 50kg bag of white Garri, which sold for N18, 000 in December 2023, now commands N37, 000. Yellow Garri prices have followed a similar trajectory, rising from an average of N18, 000 to N37, 500 per bag during the same period.
According to Madam Amina, a Market Trader in Lagos, “I used to buy Garri without thinking twice. It was a staple for my family. But now, I watch customers walk away, unable to afford it. The rising prices hurt us all.”
In a similar vein, Mrs. Maria Nwokedi, a resident of Ogba, in Ikeja, Lagos, “Garri used to be our fallback option when other meals were scarce. Now, even that fallback is slipping away. We need urgent solutions.”
Funmi, a Student in Ibadan, in her response to Daily Independent at a parley said: “I miss the days when Garri was a budget-friendly meal. Now, it feels like a luxury. We’re struggling to cope.”
Mr. Ignatius Uwaoma, while throwing insight to the root causes of soaring prices of Garri in varied measures said several factors contribute to the Garri price surge.
As to cassava shortage, he said: “Declining cassava production has led to scarcity, driving up prices. Farmers face challenges such as pests, weather fluctuations, and inadequate infrastructure.
Concerning transportation costs, he said “Rising fuel prices impact transportation costs, affecting the entire supply chain. From rural farms to urban markets, Garri’s journey becomes costlier”, and added “Nigeria’s overall inflation rate has surged, impacting food prices. Garri is no exception, burdening consumers already grappling with economic challenges”.
On the way forward, not a few respondents to Daily Independent unanimously said that government and private sector collaboration can boost cassava production.
Improved farming techniques, disease-resistant varieties, and better infrastructure are essential, and that interventions such as subsidies or targeted support can mitigate the impact on consumers, by ensuring fair prices benefits both producers and buyers.
In a similar vein, they suggested the encouragement of diversification in diets as it can reduce reliance on Garri, and promote other local staples like yam, plantain, and rice.
Be that as it may, Garri’s affordability crisis is no doubt affecting millions of Nigerians. This is as consumers are raising their voices, urging policymakers and stakeholders to act swiftly in ensuring that the staple food remains accessible to all.
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