Experts have urged the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to collaborate with other stakeholders to address the high cost of feed in poultry farming and minimize other challenges.
They made the call in Ibadan, at the 2022 Annual Zonal Workshop of PAN, Ibadan Zone 1, Oyo State.
The event, themed: “The Recurrent Inputs Challenges in Industry; The Way Out,” had in attendance poultry farmers and other key players in the industry.
In her lecture, Prof. Omolade Oladele, Avian Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, said there must be adequate planning to reduce high cost of feed in poultry farming, a major challenge militating against farmers in Nigeria.
“Stakeholders, PAN and others in the agricultural production such as Maize and Soybeans farmers, must come together to celebrate and determine the quality of soybeans and maize production per year, how much is needed by the poultry industry and the deficit,” she said.
She said with this knowledge PAN can then approach the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), requesting that a certain amount of feed components is needed to be imported as there is a ban on the commodities.
“Until we are able to produce enough, we need to allow for importation of just the deficits identified by PAN,” Oladele said, adding that exportation of Soybeans should be discouraged for now and all leakages blocked until local consumption is satisfied.
The don enjoined PAN to increase solid marketing plan for egg production, as this would assist in taking the business to new heights, turn the goals into a reality by providing PAN with direction, deadlines, actionable tactics and more.
Until we are able to produce enough, we need to allow for importation of just the deficits identified by PAN.
Cutting cost
Similarly, the General Manager, Adamore Nigeria Ltd, Dr James Wageti, enjoined farmers to reduce unnecessary waste in feeding their birds, to cut cost of production and ensure efficiency for greater output.
“Challenges in poultry production are not only limited to Nigeria, it is a global issue. Prices of raw materials for feed keep going up and it is compounded by crises in other parts of the world, such as the Ukraine and Russia war.
“So, poultry farmers need to be efficient in managing their resources well and ensuring productivity. They need to avoid things that amount to hidden losses in poultry,” Wageti said.
He charged them to embrace best practices and adopt the Indian strategy to increase egg consumption.
Earlier in his address, Chairman, PAN, Ibadan Zone 1, and Vice President in Oyo State, Abiola Abiodun, highlighted the importance of poultry farming in Nigeria as a major contribution to the livelihoods of many Nigerians.
Abiodun noted that the industry had been facing enormous difficulties causing some farmers to reduce their workforce, while forcing some out of job.
“We are gathered here to identify the way out to some of the current input challenges facing the poultry industry,” he said. (NAN)
