Persistent heavy rainfall in Ebonyi State has sparked fears among rice farmers that this year’s harvest could be severely reduced, leading to higher prices for the staple food.
The unrelenting downpours, which began in mid-July, have caused widespread flooding, waterlogging, and destruction of rice farmlands across key cultivation areas in the state.
Mr. Emmanuel Nwali, a prominent rice farmer in Izzi Local Government Area, said nearly half of his farmland had been submerged.
“The floods have destroyed most of our work. What is left is already turning yellow. We may not expect a bountiful harvest this season,” Nwali lamented.
Another farmer, Mr. Chinedu Okenwa, revealed that flooding had wiped out his nursery beds, making it impossible to transplant rice seedlings.
“The nursery is gone, and I don’t know how to recover. We risk poor yields this year, and that could drive up the price of local rice next year,” Okenwa warned.
Similarly, commercial rice grower Mr. Aloysius Njoku reported losing a large portion of his farm to the floods.
“The rains and flooding have been devastating. If nothing is done, rice will become scarce and expensive, and everyone will feel the impact,” Njoku said.
For Mrs. Sylvia Elom, a civil servant who also engages in subsistence farming, the situation is not just an agricultural problem but a livelihood crisis.
“Rice is the main source of income for many households here. When floods destroy our farms, families are left with nothing,” she said.
Agricultural extension specialist Dr. Paul Onwe explained that rice is highly vulnerable to prolonged flooding, particularly in swampy areas.
“Submerged fields suffer stunted growth, nutrient deficiency, and fungal diseases,” Onwe noted, urging farmers to follow weather forecasts and early warning advisories issued before planting season.
An official from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Agriculture, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the government is assessing the impact of the floods and compiling reports from affected communities for possible intervention.
Ebonyi, one of Nigeria’s leading rice-producing states, is among those predicted to experience severe flooding during the 2025 rainy season. Rice traders in Abakaliki markets have already expressed concerns that shortages may push prices higher in the coming months.