Ebonyi farmers lament rising cost of farm inputs, labour

Farmers across communities in Ebonyi have raised concerns over the rising cost of farm inputs and labour as the 2026 planting season begins.

A cross-section of farmers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abakaliki on Wednesday said that the trend could negatively affect food production and prices.

The farmers said that the sharp increase in the prices of fertilisers, improved seeds, agrochemicals, and the cost of hiring farm assistance had made it difficult for them to prepare adequately for the season.

Mr Joseph Ugwuoke, a yam and rice farmer, decried the development and called for government intervention to boost efforts toward achieving food security.

Ugwuoke said that the price of fertilisers had doubled compared to the previous year, adding that it was difficult for him to cope as the current planting season approached.

Similarly, a cassava and yam farmer, Mr Chukwuma Nkwuda, complained about the high cost of labour, noting that most farmers could no longer afford to hire workers for land clearing and planting.

“Labour costs have increased significantly. What we paid workers in 2025 has almost doubled. Some of us now rely on family members, but that is not always enough,” he said.

Nkwuda attributed the situation to rising transportation costs, inflation, and the removal of fuel subsidy, which they said had affected the prices of goods and services nationwide.

Mr Joshua Oke, a labourer in Ugwuachara, said the cost of making heaps for yam cultivation ranged from N200 to N500, depending on the size.

“We earn more from labour now. We are paid between N10, 000 and N15, 000 to clear grass on farmland,” Oke said.

At Kpirikpiri Market, a seller of farm inputs, Ms Blessing Nworie, told NAN that the price of agrochemicals, including herbicides, had increased significantly.

“Herbicides that sold for N3,000 in 2025 now sell for N5,000, while fertiliser, which was N30,000, now sells for between N45,000 and N50,000,” she said.

In her reaction, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said Ebonyi had recorded tremendous improvement in Agri-business since the inception of the present governor, Mr Francis Nwifiru.

NAN reports that the state government, through the Ministry of Human Capital Development, trained over 100 youths in farming, such as poultry, cassava, and rice production.

NAN also reports that the beneficiaries received start-up funds of N3 million each.