Farmers across Ikwo and Ezza South in Ebonyi State received a significant boost last Saturday. The distribution included 5,000 bags of fertilizer, rice seedlings and N50 million in cash support.
Chinedu Ogah, the federal legislator representing the constituency, facilitated the intervention at Blessed Martins College of Nursing Sciences in Ohatekwe Amagu. The event drew scores of beneficiaries and agricultural stakeholders.
Ebonyi's APC chapter praised Ogah as a hardworking lawmaker. They noted his scholarship schemes, constituency projects and regular community engagement set him apart.
But the distribution revealed deeper worries among rural farmers. Rising costs of farm inputs continue to squeeze profit margins for small-scale producers.
Elizabeth Ngwuta, a rice farmer and beneficiary, shared her struggle with reporters. Last year's harvest earnings weren't enough to cover her grandson's JSS exam fees.
She called on the Federal Government to slash input prices immediately. Without affordable fertilizer and seeds, she warned, many farmers will quit agriculture entirely.
Other beneficiaries echoed her sentiment at the event. They argued that cheaper farm inputs would boost production across the region.
According to them, affordable costs are crucial for Nigeria's food security goals. Farmers need profitable operations to sustain their livelihoods long-term.
Ezekiel Ogboji from Ndiofeke acknowledged the lawmaker's generosity. Still, he insisted the real answer lies elsewhere—in making inputs cheaper and markets more accessible.
He noted that one-time handouts, though helpful, won't solve agriculture's structural problems. Sustainable growth requires addressing affordability at its core.
For now, the 5,000 farmers who benefited Saturday expressed gratitude. Many hope this intervention signals a broader commitment to their sector's viability.
