December 28, 2023
 

Poultry farmers in Abuja, Nigeria face challenges amid rising feed costs, low sales

Poultry farmers in Abuja, Nigeria, are expressing their concerns about the continuous increase in the cost of poultry feeds and the sluggish patronage of bird sales in the market, urging producers and suppliers to consider reasonable interventions to alleviate their challenges, Chronicle reported.

Joy Felix, a poultry farmer, highlighted the profitability of poultry farming but lamented setbacks at the point of sale. She said the impact of feed costs, which often see artificial scarcity and price hikes, especially during the Christmas season, has led to financial strains for farmers.

Felix also pointed out the challenge of high drug costs for the birds, pushing farmers to resort to organic methods for treatment. She called on farmers' associations and stakeholders to intervene and find lasting solutions to these challenges.

Ayo Bamidele, another poultry farmer, echoed concerns about the soaring cost of chicken feed, ranging from NGN 10,000 (US$11.06) to NGN 14,000 (US$15.48) per 50 kg bag in the last month. He said the birds were difficult to sell during the festive period due to increased supply and decreased demand.

Despite the challenges, Bamidele expressed optimism about making profitable sales during and after the Yuletide.

Elimah Jacob, a distributor of poultry feeds, explained that the high costs were not new but a recurring challenge during periods of mass poultry farming, particularly before December.

Jacob attributed the feed price increase to companies facing scarcity or shortage of raw materials for production and the escalating costs of transportation from suppliers to distributors. He anticipates that prices may go lower after the Christmas celebration.

-      Chronicle