Farmers in Ebonyi State have urged the state government to ensure that agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, agrochemicals, and improved seedlings and processing equipment, are distributed directly to genuine farmers to boost food production.
The farmers made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Wednesday.
A rice farmer from Ndiagu Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, Johnson Nwafor, said preparations for the 2026 farming season were in full swing across farming communities.
According to him, many farmers have already raised rice seedlings in nurseries for transplanting, while others have commenced land clearing and direct broadcasting on swampy farmlands.
Mr Nwafor, however, lamented the high cost of labour, describing it as a major challenge confronting rice farmers this season.
