Ebonyi Farmers Face Crisis Amid Rising Costs and Glut

Farmers in Ebonyi State are grappling with a dual crisis of food glut and soaring production costs, which has forced many to abandon their farms. Ogodo Ali Nomeh, the Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, expressed concerns over the paradox of food abundance amid the inability of farmers to sell their produce profitably.

He highlighted that the costs of farming inputs, particularly fertilizers, have risen significantly, making agriculture increasingly unsustainable. Nomeh noted that the value of harvested crops is being outstripped by production costs, leading to a situation where many farmers are leaving the sector.

He attributed the surge in costs to a heavy reliance on imported agricultural inputs, which leaves local farmers vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nomeh urged the federal government to cut import-related costs and prioritize subsidies for farming inputs as critical measures to revive farmer confidence and boost production.

He acknowledged state government efforts to improve fertilizer availability but noted that the output remains insufficient to meet demand.