Ebonyi farmers seek import cuts, input subsidies as costs squeeze production

Farmers in Ebonyi State are calling on the Federal Government to reduce importation rates for agricultural inputs and redirect subsidy savings into the sector.

This is coming as rising production costs and weak market demand threaten the viability of farming livelihoods ahead of the new planting season.

The appeal comes amid mounting concerns that the high cost of fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals most of which depend on imported components has outpaced returns from farm produce, leaving many farmers operating at a loss.

Ogodo Ali Nomeh, a veteran farmer and chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, with years of experience in crop production spanning rice, yam, cassava, and emerging ventures like cucumber and watermelon, said the economics of farming have become increasingly unsustainable.

According to him, while the removal of fuel subsidy has reshaped national economic priorities, part of the savings should be reinvested in agriculture through targeted support for inputs. “The raw materials we use now are more costly than the food we produce. That is why people are running away from farming,” he said. “If the government channels subsidy into agro-inputs, it will reduce the burden on farmers and boost productivity.”

Fertilizer dilemma and local solutions: Central to farmers’ concerns is the cost and availability of fertilizer. Ebonyi State produces its own NPK blends through the Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company in Onuebonyi, formulated to suit the state’s soil composition following extensive soil testing.

Nomeh emphasised that while locally blended fertilizers are more suitable for Ebonyi soils, limited awareness and production capacity mean farmers still rely on supplies from outside the state, including urea sourced from Rivers State and organic fertilizers from neighboring Enugu.

He noted that different crops require specific fertilizer types sesame seed needs urea, while pepper thrives better with organic manure yet access to these inputs remains uneven and costly.

“The fertilizer we produce here was designed specifically for our soil. It gives better yield, but people are not adequately informed,” he said, urging improved publicity and scaling of local production.

Farmers say costs are still misaligned with falling produce prices. Rice, yam, and cassava prices have declined sharply, making it difficult to break even.

Market glut, weak demand: Beyond input costs, farmers are grappling with a glut in the market.

Nomeh disclosed that large quantities of harvested rice remain unsold in warehouses months after harvest, with peak sales typically limited to the October, December festive window.

Livestock farmers face similar challenges. “I have pigs and poultry ready for sale, but there are no buyers. Everyone is producing, but the market is not absorbing,” he said.

This mismatch between production and market demand is forcing farmers to reconsider scaling back operations. Many, he warned, may opt out of cultivation in the coming season due to uncertainty over returns.

While he stopped short of predicting outright food scarcity, Nomeh warned of deepening rural poverty. “People may not go hungry because they consume what they produce, but there is no money. That affects everything else in the economy,” he added.

Government intervention and support programs: In response, the Federal Government, through its partnership with the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), says it is working to cushion the impact through targeted interventions.

Sunday Michael Ituma, State Programme Coordinator, explained that the initiative provides subsidized agricultural inputs under a Matching Grant scheme, where farmers pay 50% of the cost while the programme covers the rest.

Under the scheme, rice farmers receive a package including 50kg of improved seeds, four bags of NPK fertilizer, two bags of urea, and agrochemicals. Cassava farmers are supported with improved stems sourced from the , along with fertilizers and herbicides.

The programme is expected to reach over 3,000 farmers in the current season, pending final approvals.

Ituma noted that these interventions have already improved productivity, with rice yields rising from about two metric tons per hectare to as high as 3.5–4 metric tons among participating farmers.

“Beyond yield increases, we have seen improvements in livelihoods farmers building houses, acquiring assets, and investing in education,” he said.

Organic farming debate and irrigation expansion: While inorganic fertilizers remain dominant, there is a gradual push toward organic alternatives due to perceived health and environmental benefits. However, adoption remains low in Ebonyi, largely due to limited availability and lack of large-scale demonstration.

For many farmers, however, the core issue remains structural: the reliance on imported inputs in a volatile global market.

Nomeh, Jacob Ogodo and others argue that reducing importation costs through tariff adjustments or local production incentives would directly lower input prices and restore profitability.

“If importation rates remain high, farmers cannot compete,” he said. “Reducing those costs is the only way to stabilise the sector.”

As the rainy season approaches, the choices made by policymakers could determine whether farmers expand cultivation or retreat, with implications not just for food production, but for rural incomes and the broader economy.