Yam sellers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday appealed to the Federal Government to intervene on the arbitrary price increase of yam in the country.
The sellers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja, said that the continuous increase of the stable food was affecting their livelihood.
They, however, attributed the constant price increase of the product to insecurity, high transportation costs, and the increasing cost of fertilisers and pesticides.
Blessing Timothy, a yam seller in the Masaka market, called on the federal and state governments to regulate the constant price increase of foodstuff to minimise the sufferings of Nigerians.
She also appealed to the government at all levels to provide farmers with modern farm inputs, while ensuring the timely distribution of fertilisers to boost food production across the country.
Timothy said early distribution of fertiliser would enhance the cultivation of yams and other crops and possibly bring down the cost of farm produce.
“I am appealing to the government to provide machinery like tractors and other farm inputs to farmers at subsidised rates to boost food production in the country.
“The provisions of modern farm inputs to farmers will not only help fight poverty, hunger, and unemployment but will also improve the revenue base of the country.
“It will improve on harvest, reduce cost of production and bring down prices,’’ she said.
Timothy said that a five tuber of yam now sell for between N15,000 to N30,000 depending on the sizes.
She expressed worry that something must be done urgently to address the cost of yam and other food items and reduce the sufferings of Nigerians.