The Cowpea and Beans Farmers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (C&BFPMAN) has issued a forecast indicating a sustained increase in the price of beans across the country. Mr. Kabir Shuaibu, the National President of the association, disclosed this during an interview on Tuesday, noting that the end of the traditional harvest cycle, coupled with low yields from the previous planting season, has created a supply-side constraint that is currently pushing prices upward in major markets.
According to the association, the primary driver for the current price hike is the exhaustion of farm-level stocks. Shuaibu explained that the harvest period for beans concluded approximately three months ago across the major farming clusters in Northern Nigeria. Consequently, there is currently no active cultivation or fresh harvest entering the market. The scarcity is further exacerbated by the inadequate rainfall recorded during the 2024/2025 planting season, which resulted in a significantly limited output compared to previous years.
Market data provided by C&BFPMAN highlights a sharp inflationary trend in the cost of the staple. Currently, a 50kg bag of beans in Northern Nigeria the country’s primary production hub is retailing for between ₦75,000 and ₦85,000. This represents a significant jump from just one month ago, when the same quantity was sold for between ₦50,000 and ₦55,000. This rapid appreciation in value reflects the broader food inflation challenges facing the Nigerian economy, where the cost of legumes and grains has remained volatile due to logistics costs and climate-related supply shocks.
A concerning dimension to the current price trajectory is the reported practice of hoarding by some producers and middlemen. Shuaibu noted that some farmers have withheld significant quantities of the produce ranging from 100 to 300 bags per individual with the intention of selling at much higher prices during the peak of the lean season. This artificial scarcity, combined with the genuine lack of fresh harvests, suggests that the cost of beans to the end consumer will continue to climb until the next harvest cycle begins.
The Nigerian agricultural sector has faced increasing pressure from erratic weather patterns, which have disrupted traditional planting calendars. The delay in the onset of the 2026 rainy season means that many farmers have yet to commence new cultivation. This gap in production cycles creates a “hungry season” where reliance shifts entirely to stored reserves. Agriculture experts point out that without improved irrigation systems and dry-season farming support, the Nigerian food market remains highly susceptible to these seasonal price swings, which disproportionately affect low-income households for whom beans are a critical source of protein.
The economic implications of rising bean prices extend beyond the immediate consumer. As a primary raw material for various local food processors, the increased cost of cowpeas is expected to drive up the prices of processed derivatives such as bean flour and pre-packaged meals. This contributes to the overall headline inflation rate, which the Central Bank of Nigeria has been working to contain through various monetary tightening measures. However, supply-side issues in the agricultural sector often require fiscal interventions, such as improved storage infrastructure and the distribution of drought-resistant seed varieties, to ensure long-term price stability.
In the short term, the association expressed hope for an early and consistent rainy season to allow for timely planting. A bountiful harvest in the coming cycle is seen as the only definitive solution to crashing the current high prices. Until then, the association advises stakeholders in the food value chain to prepare for a period of tightened supply. The government may also need to monitor hoarding activities more closely to ensure that available stocks are released into the market to prevent an astronomical spike in food costs during the mid-year period.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its food security challenges, the performance of the cowpea value chain remains a key barometer for the health of the domestic agricultural economy. For now, the combination of seasonal depletion and speculative holding points toward a challenging few months for consumers of one of the nation’s most essential food staples. The focus for the remainder of the quarter will be on weather patterns and the speed at which farmers can return to the fields to begin the next production phase.
