December 14, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
The Ebonyi State Government has officially commenced the distribution of modern agricultural equipment and essential farm inputs to farmers in preparation for the 2025 dry season farming campaign, a key component of the state’s strategy to bolster agricultural productivity and ensure food security. The flag-off ceremony took place on Sunday, with officials describing the exercise as critical to enhancing mechanised and technology-driven farming across the state’s agrarian communities.
At the event, state and federal agricultural partners emphasised that the initiative is designed to equip farmers with the tools needed to expand cultivation, improve crop yields and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture. The move reflects a broader push to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agricultural production, particularly for staple crops cultivated over the dry season.
Officials from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government highlighted that this dry season distribution forms part of the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, which has already benefited thousands of farmers in Ebonyi State through previous agricultural development efforts. Under the programme, more than 33,000 farmers across eight local government areas have received support aimed at mechanisation, improved inputs and capacity building.
The array of farm inputs provided includes tractors, power tillers, knapsack sprayers, fertilisers, improved seeds and other implements essential for dry season cultivation. These resources are tailored to assist farmers in preparing land, managing pests and weeds, and ensuring timely planting—a challenge historic dry season farming initiatives often face due to manual practices and limited access to technology.
State agricultural authorities noted that the modern equipment allocation is intended to mitigate the constraints faced by farmers who traditionally rely on rudimentary tools, which hamper productivity. By mechanising key farm operations, the government aims to increase planting acreage, boost output, and strengthen the state’s contribution to national food supply chains.
The dry season farming push comes at a critical moment for Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which has been under pressure due to food insecurity concerns linked to population growth, climatic variability and post-harvest losses. Experts warn that enhancing mechanisation and access to quality inputs is vital to achieving sustainable food production and reducing the nation’s reliance on food imports.
Farmers present at the distribution ceremony expressed optimism, asserting that the equipment and inputs will significantly reduce labour intensity and increase their capacity to cultivate crops such as rice, cassava and maize throughout the dry season. They commended the government’s commitment to supporting agricultural livelihoods and called for continued expansion of similar programmes.
As the implementation unfolds, agricultural stakeholders are hopeful that the dry season initiative will not only improve yields in Ebonyi State but also set a precedent for consistent year-round farming across Nigeria’s diverse agro-ecological zones—contributing to broader national goals of food security and rural economic empowerment.