Poultry Association of Nigeria Reports Closure Of Over 30 Percent Farms Due To Economic Hardship
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has reported a significant decline in the country’s poultry industry, with over 30 percent of farms closing down in the past six months.
Mr. Godwin Egbebe, the National Publicity Secretary of PAN, highlighted the dire situation in an interview with the Newsmen on Tuesday.
Egbebe attributed this alarming trend to the escalating operational costs that have plagued the sector, leading to a sharp increase in the cost of eggs across the nation.
“About 30 per cent of local poultry farmers nationwide have shut down their farms due to the hardship faced in the sector in the first half of the year,” he stated.
Egbebe emphasized the urgent need for governmental intervention, criticizing current palliatives as ineffective.
“The palliatives are not alleviating the ills in the sector; we seek sustainable solutions to the problems on the ground. The palliatives most times even end in wrong places rather than with legitimate farmers,” he added.
Many farmers are abandoning the industry, unable to sustain the rising costs, with some even selling their cages and farms.
Despite the challenges, Egbebe urged farmers to remain patient and resilient. “We are appealing to our members that the current challenges in the sector are just a phase, and they should not give up on the sector.
If the farmers sell off all their cages and equipment, they may not be able to come back to the sector when things get better,” he advised.
A major contributor to the crisis is the skyrocketing cost of feed. “The price of poultry produce keeps increasing because the price of feed increases every other week.
As of two weeks ago, we bought 25kg of feed at N14,300; just this past weekend, it is now N14,800. Early this year, we bought a bag for N12,000, and it sold for N9,000 last year. The increment is affecting the sector,” Egbebe explained.
Transportation costs have also exacerbated the situation, further inflating the price of poultry produce.
Mr. Mojeed Iyiola, the PAN Lagos State Chairman, linked the recent hike in egg prices to the scarcity caused by farm closures. “The reason for the current hike in the price of eggs is that eggs are very scarce now.
Most farmers have sold off their old layers, and to get new stock is very expensive as the price of a day-old chick is becoming unbearable. Farmers able to buy day-old chicks are considered to be well-to-do.
Also, a majority of our local farmers have shut down their farms due to the high cost of feed,” Iyiola stated.
The poultry sector, a critical component of Nigeria’s agriculture industry, is facing unprecedented challenges.
Industry leaders are calling for immediate and effective interventions to prevent further collapse and ensure the sustainability of poultry farming in the country.
