The Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (OPMAN) has attributed the sharp rise in onion prices to flooding, climate change, and poor seed quality. According to the Association’s national president, Aliyu Isah, these challenges have significantly reduced production, causing scarcity and price hikes.
From the fourth quarter of 2024, onion prices skyrocketed, with a bag selling for as high as ₦270,000 compared to ₦70,000 earlier in the year. Individual onion bulbs now cost ₦500, up from ₦50. Isah explained that the floods of 2024, which ravaged onion farms in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Adamawa states, were a major factor in the scarcity. Dam releases and breakages in northern states further worsened the situation, destroying large farmlands.
Extended rainfall due to climate change also had severe consequences. High humidity levels triggered disease outbreaks, including Downy Mildew, which devastated onion crops at various growth stages. “This affected production from seedlings to harvest,” Isah noted.
The lack of improved onion seedlings has compounded the crisis. Local seed production was disrupted by floods, forcing reliance on imported hybrid seeds. Some farmers purchased adulterated seeds, leading to crop failures and financial losses.
Isah also highlighted inadequate storage facilities as a contributing factor. Poor post-harvest technology means farmers are unable to preserve onions effectively, further exacerbating scarcity and price increases.
To address these challenges, the Association calls for investment in improved seed production, modern farming techniques, and storage infrastructure. Tackling these issues, Isah emphasized, is critical to stabilizing onion prices and ensuring food security.
