Heavy Rains Threaten 2025 Rice Harvest — Ebonyi Farmers

Rice farmers in Ebonyi State have raised the alarm over persistent rainfall and flooding, which they say threaten the 2025 rice harvest.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), several farmers lamented the impact of the rains, which have submerged farmlands and damaged crops across major rice-producing areas.

Mr Emmanuel Nwali, a farmer in Izzi Local Government Area, said nearly half of his rice farm was flooded.
“The floods have destroyed most of our crops. What is left is already turning yellow,” he said.

Another farmer, Mr Chinedu Okenwa, said he lost his nursery beds and could no longer transplant seedlings.
“We risk poor yields this season, and that may lead to a rise in rice prices next year,” he noted.

Commercial farmer Mr Aloysius Njoku added that widespread flooding could lead to scarcity and affect everyone.
“If nothing is done, rice will become scarce and expensive,” he warned.

Mrs Sylvia Elom, a civil servant and subsistence farmer, said rice farming is a key source of income for many households.
“When floods destroy our farms, we are left with nothing,” she said.

Dr Paul Onwe, an agricultural extension expert, explained that rice is vulnerable to prolonged flooding, especially in swampy areas. He urged farmers to monitor weather forecasts and follow early warning advisories.

An official from the Ebonyi Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the government is assessing the impact of the flooding and gathering reports from affected areas.

According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Ebonyi is among the states expected to experience flooding during the 2025 rainy season.

Ebonyi is a major rice-producing state, and traders in Abakaliki have expressed fears of a price hike due to anticipated poor harvests.