Abandoned Farms, Rising Prices: The Economic Cost of Insecurity in Plateau
By Billa Pius
For decades, Plateau State stood as one of Nigeria’s most important agricultural hubs, supplying fresh vegetables and grains to markets across the country. But today, beyond the headlines of violent attacks lies another troubling reality an economic crisis quietly unfolding in the countryside.
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Insecurity in rural communities is not only claiming lives; it is also crippling livelihoods, shrinking agricultural production, and threatening the economic stability of a state long regarded as a major food basket.
Farms Under Threat
In recent years, repeated attacks in communities across Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom have forced many residents to flee their homes, leaving vast stretches of farmland abandoned.
What began as sporadic clashes has gradually evolved into a cycle of violence and displacement that is exacting a heavy economic toll on both local livelihoods and the wider food supply chain.
Conflicts over land, grazing routes, and communal tensions have troubled parts of Plateau State for decades. Periodic outbreaks of violence in rural communities have repeatedly disrupted farming cycles and forced thousands from their homes, undermining agricultural productivity and social stability.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Plateau’s rural economy, employing a large percentage of the population. But when insecurity drives farmers away from their land, the consequences ripple far beyond the affected communities.
“Many of us cannot go back to our farms because we are afraid,” said Mahan Bitrus, a farmer from Bokkos who relocated to Jos after his village was attacked. “If we cannot farm, how do we feed our families?”
The immediate impact is visible in declining agricultural output. In many conflict-prone areas, farmers are unable to cultivate large portions of their land due to fear of attacks or destruction of crops. For rural households that depend almost entirely on farming, the loss of farmland often means the loss of their only reliable source of livelihood.
Displacement and Economic Disruption
Beyond the farms themselves, the violence has triggered widespread displacement. Entire communities have been uprooted in the wake of attacks, forcing thousands to seek refuge in safer locations.
Displacement not only disrupts families and social structures; it also removes a critical labour force from the agricultural sector. When farmers leave their land, rural economies that depend on farming activities inevitably slow down.
Local markets that once served as vibrant centres of commerce are also affected. Traders who depend on farm produce for their businesses now face dwindling supplies, while insecurity discourages travel between villages and urban centres.
In some areas, economic activity slows significantly as residents prioritise safety over commerce.
Rising Food Prices
Plateau has long served as a major supplier of fresh produce to cities such as Abuja, Kaduna, and Lagos. Traders routinely transported vegetables and grains from rural communities to markets across Nigeria.
But insecurity has altered this flow. Transporters and traders increasingly avoid volatile rural routes, while some markets have recorded lower volumes of farm produce.
A vegetable trader in Jos, Jummai Dan, said the reduction in farm produce has affected business in local markets.
“Before, trucks brought tomatoes and potatoes every day,” she said. “Now supply is not as regular, and prices keep rising.”
Food inflation is therefore one of the less visible but significant consequences of rural violence. When farmers cannot plant or harvest crops, the shortage of produce spreads through the entire value chain from rural markets to urban households.
What begins as a local security challenge ultimately becomes a broader economic concern affecting consumers far beyond Plateau.
Government Response
For the state government, the economic implications extend to public revenue as well. When farming declines and market activities shrink, the flow of taxes and local economic contributions inevitably falls.
The administration of Caleb Mutfwang has acknowledged the urgent need to restore stability and revive agricultural production. Efforts in recent months have included the distribution of fertiliser and improved seeds to farmers, as well as initiatives aimed at supporting rural livelihoods.
However, analysts say such interventions can only achieve lasting results if accompanied by sustained security in rural communities.
Without peace, many farmers remain reluctant to return fully to their fields.
The Road to Recovery
The situation in Plateau also highlights a broader national challenge. The Middle Belt region plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s food production, and disruptions in agricultural activities can affect food supply across the country.
Ensuring stability in rural farming communities is therefore not merely a state concern but a national economic priority.
Despite the challenges, many residents remain hopeful that Plateau’s agricultural potential can be restored. Farmers, traders, and community leaders often speak of the resilience of rural communities and their determination to rebuild once peace is secured.
Ultimately, the story of insecurity in Plateau State is not only about violence but also about lost economic opportunities. Every abandoned farm represents food that could have reached Nigerian markets, and every displaced farmer reflects a livelihood interrupted.
Restoring peace to the countryside is therefore more than a security objective it is an economic necessity for Plateau and the nation as a whole.