Streamlining the Supply Chain: Expert Calls for Direct Farmer-to-Consumer Sales

Professor Adejoke Akinyele, Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources at the University of Ibadan, has advocated for the removal of middlemen from the food and agriculture supply value chain in Nigeria. She made this call during a reunion program held at the University of Ibadan.

In her address, Professor Akinyele emphasized the need for the government to develop mechanisms that allow crops produced by farmers to reach consumers directly. She argued that eliminating intermediaries, who often inflate prices and create inefficiencies within the supply chain, would not only lower costs for consumers but also ensure fairer prices for farmers, ultimately contributing to improved food security in the country.

Professor Akinyele highlighted that the presence of multiple layers of middlemen between producers and consumers often leads to significant mark-ups in food prices, making it difficult for many Nigerians to access affordable and nutritious food. By streamlining the supply chain and removing these intermediaries, she believes the agricultural sector would be more efficient, and farmers would be better compensated for their labor, encouraging them to increase production.

She further called on the government to invest in infrastructure such as storage facilities, transportation networks, and direct-to-market initiatives that would facilitate this direct supply chain model. According to her, such efforts would help reduce post-harvest losses, enhance distribution efficiency, and ensure that fresh produce reaches the market in a timely manner, benefiting both farmers and consumers.

Professor Akinyele’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria faces challenges in its agricultural sector, including inadequate storage facilities, poor transportation networks, and market inefficiencies, which collectively hamper efforts to achieve sustainable food security. She urged stakeholders to prioritize innovative approaches that support smallholder farmers and minimize the bottlenecks caused by intermediaries.

Her call to action is expected to spark further discussions among policymakers, agricultural stakeholders, and consumer advocacy groups on how best to create a more sustainable and efficient agricultural value chain in Nigeria.