Vegetable prices are expected to rise in the coming weeks following widespread flooding that destroyed farmlands in Ojo and other parts of Lagos State, the Chairperson of the Farmers Community in Ojo Local Government Area, Mrs Mayriam Ali, has said.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Ali described flooding as the biggest challenge facing farmers in Ojo, noting that the area’s swampy terrain leaves farmlands particularly vulnerable during the rainy season.
She said heavy rainfall had submerged farmlands, destroyed crops and disrupted harvesting and replanting activities, leaving many farmers with significant losses.
“We have recorded huge losses. Floodwaters destroyed many of our crops, and farmers are struggling to recover.
“If we sold vegetables at lower prices before, they will now become more expensive because farmers must recover their losses,” she said.
According to her, vegetables expected to record sharp price increases include ugu, spinach, spring onions, oregano and waterleaf.
She explained that a bunch of waterleaf, currently selling for about ₦500, could rise to between ₦1,000 and ₦1,300 in the coming weeks.
Ali noted that vegetables with longer maturity periods suffered the greatest losses because many were washed away before they could be harvested.
However, she expressed optimism that vegetables with shorter maturity periods, such as shoko, tete and ewedu, would remain relatively affordable since they can be replanted and harvested within a shorter time.
She attributed the scale of the losses to inadequate drainage facilities and the lack of pumping equipment to remove excess water from flooded farms.
To address the challenge, Ali called for the provision of affordable solar-powered pumping machines to help farmers manage flooding and reduce crop losses.
She also urged the government to improve transportation infrastructure to facilitate the movement of farm produce to markets and to conduct assessments of farming communities to better understand their needs.
According to her, addressing flooding, transportation and mechanisation challenges would boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security in Lagos State.
Ali appealed to consumers to be patient as farmers work to restore production, while encouraging households with available space to embrace home gardening to reduce dependence on the market for leafy vegetables.
She expressed confidence that production would improve as floodwaters recede but cautioned that vegetable prices are likely to remain unstable until farmers fully recover from their losses.
Ali reaffirmed the commitment of farmers to increase production, saying greater government support would help the sector recover more quickly.
