NOPPMAN, Isa Aliyu addressing newsmen.According to a report from PUNCH news, the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has declared a state of emergency in Nigeria’s onion industry, citing severe challenges that threaten to destabilize the sector.

At a press briefing in Abuja, NOPPMAN President Isa Aliyu highlighted the hardships farmers are facing due to inflation, climate disruptions, and rising costs, calling for immediate government intervention to rescue the industry.

According to Aliyu, these issues have compounded to the point that many farmers struggle to sustain their operations, risking a collapse that would impact food supply and price stability across Nigeria.

Aliyu pointed to a series of economic and environmental factors that have created a crisis. Inflation has sharply increased input costs, affecting everything from onion seedlings to labor, fertilizers, and fuel.

These escalating expenses have made it difficult for onion producers to break even, let alone turn a profit, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers who rely on the crop.

Furthermore, he emphasized the impact of climate change, which has introduced erratic rainfall patterns that disrupt traditional planting and harvesting cycles, causing waterlogged fields and diseases that reduce crop yields.

The NOPPMAN president argued that government intervention is crucial, urging officials at all levels to provide immediate support to stabilize the industry.

He suggested subsidies on essential inputs like fertilizers and pesticides and called for investment in storage facilities to address the significant post-harvest losses farmers endure.

“Climate change has introduced new uncertainties… with extended rainfall patterns disrupting the traditional growing cycles,” he said, noting that excessive rain at critical times has damaged crops, reduced quality, and increased the financial strain on farmers.

Aliyu further advocated for improved transportation infrastructure to minimize spoilage during distribution.

Aliyu also called for financial relief through low-interest loans and subsidies to ease the operational costs for farmers.

NOPPMAN is pressing for a collaborative approach, involving local and federal governments, financial institutions, and private-sector partners to provide both immediate aid and long-term solutions.

The crisis, he warned, has the potential to affect national food security, as onions are a staple ingredient widely consumed across Nigeria.