November 21, 2024

Nigerian poultry sector stakeholders urge government to address rising feed costs

Stakeholders in the poultry sector, under the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), have called on the federal government to take decisive action on the rising cost of poultry feed, which they say is threatening the industry's growth and sustainability.

Speaking at the 13th Nigeria Poultry Show held in Abeokuta, with the theme "Adapting to Economic Realities: Innovative Approaches to Poultry Production Amidst Raw Material Deficit," Dr Olalekan Odunsi, Chairman of the organising committee, emphasised the urgent need to address these challenges.

Dr Odunsi highlighted that the poultry industry plays a critical role in Nigeria's food security, employment generation, and overall national economy. However, he noted that the rising cost of feed and other issues have significantly impacted the sector.

In his keynote address, Dr Joe Dada, chairman of the Board of Livestock Feeds Plc, appealed to the federal government to bolster support for agriculture as a means of ensuring food security. He also encouraged poultry farmers to adopt new technological innovations to enhance profitability and sustainability.

"These new technological innovations in agribusiness value chains have been instrumental in promoting solutions that improve farmers' outcomes, focusing on technology-driven optimisation and capacity building," said Dr Dada.

Gideon Oluleye, chairman of PAN's south-west zone, explained that the poultry show aimed to identify lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. He urged the government to prioritise funding for agriculture, particularly the poultry subsector, and to create markets for farmers through initiatives such as the school feeding programme.

Oluleye also encouraged poultry farmers to remain resilient, despite the economic difficulties.

Sunday Ezeobiora, the national president of PAN, represented by vice president of the south-east zone, Onu Izuo Lisa, decried the high cost of production. He identified funding, infrastructure, and marketing as significant obstacles currently hindering the poultry industry.

-      This Day