Onion Price Drops in Kano Amidst Food Inflation Spike

Amidst food inflation increase in Nigeria, the price of Onion has dropped by more than 70 percent in Kano.

A market survey at Gundutse market in Karfi, Kura local government area of Kano state state, a 100 kg of Onion is sold for between N20,000 and N25,000, depending on the size.

The current price is between N100, 000 and N120, 000 the same quantity of Onion was sold at Gundutse market in December, 2023, the survey indicated.

In January, 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released food price index indicating an average price of 1kg onion bulb rose by 97.38% on a year-on-year basis.

According to the official report, the same size of Onion rose to 97.38℅ from N446.44 in January 2023 to N881.20 per 1kg in January 2024.

An Onion dealer at Gundutse market, Khalid Saminu reported that the drop in one of the essential vegetables is not unconnected to harvest season, noting that farmers in Karfi and other planting areas in Kano had bomber harvest in the current season.

Despite the drastic reduction however, consumers are yet to witness significant impact of the price change in the metropolitan market. For instance at the popular Yankura market in Sabon Gari market, a 100 kg of Onion sells for between N80,000 and N85,000.

But Saminu explained that it may take time before the prize reduction trickles down considering the cost of transporting the vegetables from Karfi, about 48 kilometers distance from Kano city.

Another dealer, Alh. Musa Abubakar explained that the slash at the market is seasonal especially during harvest period. Abubakar however revealed that the seasonal price  tag may not last owing to mass patronage of merchants from other states and outside the country.

According to Abubakar, large patronage of dealers from Sokoto, Zamfara and Maiduguri have been witnessed in the last two weeks, due to security challenges preventing farmers from farming in their states.

He added that Gundutse market is also receiving merchants from Ghana purchasing Onion in trucks, a development that may spike the market price anytime soon.

Recently, the National President of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Maitasamu, said over 2 million metric tonnes of onion is produced annually in Nigeria with Sokoto State producing 40 percent of the product.

Maitasamu disclosed that despite the potential, the country is yet to meet its national demand of 2.44 million metric tonnes and currently contributes little to the export market.

“Based on the annual estimate, the onion produced in Nigeria amounted to more than N700 billion but about 40 to 50 percent of the product worth over N300 billion is wasted to post-harvest losses.

“This is largely due to inadequate knowledge and skills in onion production, resulting in high post-harvest losses, poor yield and produce quality, among others,” she said.

Nigeria is a top producer of Onion in Africa with 2 million metric tons annual output. Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi and Kebbi states are major growers of Onion in Nigeria.