In this edition of Voices from the Field, we speak with Sarah M., a 52-year-old cassava farmer from Gboko LGA, Benue State, who explains why farmers are losing faith in the markets.
Body:
“We harvested over 40 bags last year but couldn’t sell them at a fair price. Now everything has gone up — fertilizer, transport, even labor. I can’t afford to eat what I grow anymore.”
Sarah’s story echoes that of thousands of farmers in Nigeria: rising costs, poor market access, and no price guarantee.
Key Challenges:
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High cost of transportation eats into profits
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Middlemen control pricing, leaving farmers underpaid
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Lack of access to real-time market data or support services
What Needs to Change?
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Better rural infrastructure and digital access
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Pricing guarantees for staple crops
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Farmer cooperatives linked to state procurement systems
