‘Our members are out of business’ — poultry group laments high cost of feed

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) says more than half of the farmers in the state are currently out of business due to several challenges.

Omidokun Oyekunle, chairman of the PAN, Oyo state chapter, spoke on Wednesday in an interview with NAN in Ibadan.

The chairman said the poultry industry “contributes around 25 percent to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP)” and warned that if the current decline in the business is not addressed, it could have a detrimental impact on the nation’s economy.

Oyekunle called on the federal and state governments to address the challenges, help those who have already gone out of business return and support those still operating.

The PAN chairman said one of the challenges facing poultry farmers is the high cost of feed, particularly maize and soybeans, which are essential ingredients in poultry feed.

He said despite the rainy season, maize remains costly, with “new maize” currently sold for between N650 and N700 per 200 kilograms (kg).

Oyekunle urged the government to provide soft loans to poultry farmers in the state at an interest rate of no more than 5 percent, along with additional support for raw materials, particularly maize and soybeans.

“Majority of poultry farmers are no longer using the new maize because of its moisture content. It will affect production and the eggs of the birds,” the chairman said.

“What those who are using it do is that they grind it, spread it and wait for about five days and even add some preservatives but the weather is not favourable.

“A 25kg of broiler feed is now sold for N25,600 which cannot feed more than 200 birds. That is our plight.”

Oyekunle said most poultry farmers now use “old maize, which is available at N850 per kg”.

This, he said, has posed a significant challenge to poultry farmers due to the high production costs.

“This is a major problem confronting us, especially when you look at the production cost and the amount we sell eggs,” he said.

“You will find out that there is no enough profit margin to keep the business running and that is why poultry farmers are closing down and cost of eggs increasing.”

‘MAIZE IMPORTS WILL REDUCE PRODUCTION COSTS’

The chairman said the importation of frozen chicken is significantly affecting the market price of chicken and this practice should be stopped to help keep local poultry businesses afloat.

He commended the federal government for allowing maize imports, noting that this measure would eventually help reduce production costs and bring more people into the business.