Farmers in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have called on the Government to provide farm inputs early in the planting season, particularly from May, to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
Felix Sunday a Farmer, from Ndieke Ndiagu Amegu in Ikwo South, said access to timely financial support and essential inputs such as fertilizer, herbicides, and weed control materials remains a major challenge for farmers.
Sunday, who cultivates crops including rice and cassava and is also involved in fishing, stressed that early intervention by the government would significantly improve yields.
‘Our problem mainly now is financial assistance and other requirements like fertilizer and herbicides. If the government can come to our aid, we will be able to produce in larger quantities enough to sell and enough to eat,’ he said.
He lamented that in previous years, Government-distributed fertilizers often arrived late, sometimes between August and December, when they were no longer effective for optimal crop growth.
‘We need fertilizer as early as May, June, or July so that we can apply it at the right time. Late application affects productivity and exposes crops to pests,’ he added.
According to him, farmers in the area particularly require Urea and NPK 7-10-10 fertilizers, noting that the clay nature of their soil demands specific nutrient support for better yields.
Other farmers, including Nkeoma Gabriel and Veronica Anyigore, corroborated Sunday’s appeal, urging the government to ensure timely distribution of farm inputs, regardless of quantity, to enable proper planning and improved harvests.
They emphasised that early access to inputs would not only enhance food production but also strengthen livelihoods in rural farming communities.