News in brief:
– Nigeria’s poultry industry is on the verge of collapse due to soaring feed prices, prompting the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to appeal to President Bola Tinubu’s administration for intervention.
– The secretary of the association’s Abuja chapter blamed the increase in feed prices on maize and soybean shortages and the governments ban on maize imports.
Nigerian poultry industry faces a potential collapse as skyrocketing feed prices push farmers to the brink. In reaction, the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has issued a desperate plea for government intervention, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the crisis before it’s too late.
Hakeem Musa, Secretary of PAN’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter and CEO of Mushak Agro Consult, painted a grim picture in his statement to the press. He highlighted the alarming escalation in feed prices, using layers mash as a stark example. A 25kg bag of feed that cost â¦8,000 in November 2023 jumped to â¦10,950 by mid-December 2023, with no signs of abating.
Explaining further, Musa lamented that the price changes are unpredictable and no one knows when the increase will end. He also explained that the price surges are baffling because the November-December periods are supposed to be times of maize surplus and typically, they should be more affordable. Perplexed, he asked, “…so if it’s this expensive now, what are we to expect in February and March?”
Meantime, Musa attributed the feed price surge to a confluence of factors: maize and soybean shortage, coupled with a government ban on maize imports. This perfect storm has forced closures and production cuts across farms, threatening the vital poultry sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.
While optimistic about the new administration’s potential support, Musa emphasised the need for immediate financial assistance. He said that the primary intervention poultry farmers need are grants, not loans, to sustain the industry. Farmers have lost too much money already and can’t handle more debt, he added.
PAN’s urgent call highlights the precarious situation confronting Nigerian poultry farmers. With feed prices spiraling and farm closures mounting, the government faces a critical decision: intervene swiftly or risk witnessing the demise of a crucial contributor to the nation’s food security and economy.
