Farmers in Ebonyi State have raised alarm over escalating production costs, warning that the trend could undermine food output and trigger price increases as the 2026 planting season commences.
Speaking in separate interviews in Abakaliki, the farmers highlighted sharp increases in the prices of fertilisers, improved seeds, agrochemicals, and farm labour, describing the situation as a major setback to seasonal preparations.
A yam and rice farmer, Mr Joseph Ugwuoke, said the cost of fertilisers had doubled compared to the previous year, making it increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers to cope.
Similarly, Mr Chukwuma Nkwuda, who cultivates cassava and yam, expressed concern over the rising cost of labour, noting that many farmers could no longer afford to hire workers for land clearing and planting.
He explained that labour costs had nearly doubled from 2025 levels, forcing some farmers to depend on family labour, which he said remained insufficient for large-scale operations.
The farmers attributed the surge in costs to inflationary pressures, increased transportation expenses, and the removal of fuel subsidy, which have collectively driven up the prices of goods and services nationwide.
Corroborating the development, a farm labourer in Ugwuachara, Mr Joshua Oke, said earnings from agricultural labour had risen significantly, with workers now paid between N10,000 and N15,000 for clearing farmland, while the cost of making yam heaps ranges from N200 to N500 per heap.
At Kpirikpiri Market, an agro-input dealer, Ms Blessing Nworie, confirmed the spike in input prices, stating that herbicides previously sold for N3,000 now cost about N5,000, while fertiliser prices have risen from N30,000 to between N45,000 and N50,000.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, said the state government remained committed to strengthening agribusiness development, noting that significant progress had been recorded under the current administration led by Gov. Francis Nwifuru.
She added that the government, through the Ministry of Human Capital Development, had trained over 100 youths in agricultural enterprises, including poultry, cassava, and rice production, with beneficiaries receiving start-up funds of N3 million each to support their operations.
