Rice Farmers Blame Price Hike on Cartel, Middlemen

By Fortune Idiese

As the price of rice continues to soar across Nigeria, local farmers are pointing fingers—not at low production, but at powerful cartels and middlemen accused of hijacking the market. They say these groups are profits while both farmers and consumers suffers.

In local markets, the price of a 50kg bag of rice has surged to record highs—selling between ₦65,000 and ₦75,000 in some states. But rice farmers insist they’re not the ones benefitting.

Farmers say the cause isn’t just inflation or insecurity, but deliberate actions by traders and distributors.

According to the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, some unscrupulous actors are also repackaging Nigerian-grown rice in foreign bags to exploit consumer preference for imported brands — artificially inflating prices.

Farmers are also urging the government to tighten controls on subsidized farming inputs, ensuring they are not sold off, but actually used for rice cultivation.

Meanwhile, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says it is investigating price manipulation and deceptive rebagging practices, especially in major city markets.

As food insecurity rises and purchasing power shrinks, the call is growing louder for stronger regulation and a more transparent supply chain.