The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has expressed distress over the closure of more than 50% of its farms in 2023, citing sectoral challenges as the primary cause.
Mr Mojeed Iyiola, Chairman of the PAN Lagos State chapter, highlighted the difficulties poultry farmers face in meeting the increasing demand for poultry products due to the closure of a significant portion of farms.
Iyiola disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria that the closure of poultry farms has led to a shortage of poultry products, particularly eggs.
He noted that the scarcity has resulted in a low supply of eggs, and the prevailing market conditions have pushed the price of a crate of eggs to as high as N3,000 and above at the farm gate.
The chairman emphasized that sustained government interventions at all levels, particularly in subsidizing feed inputs, are crucial for the prosperity of the poultry sector.
His words: ”The industry has been grappling with increased production costs, driven by the rise in prices of essential inputs such as maize, a significant component of poultry feed.
”The price of maize, for example, has witnessed a significant year-on-year increase of 79.23%, from N329.05 for 1kg in December 2022 to N589.75 by December 2023.
”The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) food price index for December 2023 revealed that the cost of chicken feet rose by 81.71% year-on-year, and the price of medium Agric eggs increased by 52.09% over the same period.”
PAN urged the government to address the challenges facing the poultry sector to ensure the industry’s sustainability and prevent further farm closures.
