Poultry farmers lament multiple challenges

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has identified sourcing of raw materials, high foreign exchange rate, and cost of production, among others, as challenges presently confronting the sector.

They claim the situation has been made worse by lack of patronage and unending smuggling of poultry products, which has forced many out of business.

National President of the Association, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who stated this at the 2017 World Poultry Summit, in Lagos, said despite the multiple challenges, the industry has endured, with the hope for a better tomorrow.

Speaking on the theme; “Policy, Science and Commerce to optimize the poultry industry,” Oduntan tasked Nigerian researchers to carry out findings on how to address some of the challenges confronting the industry.

On the health danger of smuggled poultry products, he said; “government can start this awareness by insisting that all chicken to be served at the state functionary should be supplied by poultry association in the state, to ensure that smuggled chicken are not served. They can also encourage general public to do so through mass media.”

Oduntan encouraged soya beans and maize farmers to increase their level of production, so as to meet local demand. “We have opportunity of planting maize twice a year in this country, so I want to encourage maize and soya producers to increase production from present two tons to about 10 tons. We need to encourage more foreign investments,” he said.

On his part, the National President of World’s Poultry Science Association, (WPSA), Prof. Adeyinka Odunsi, said studies are ongoing to find alternative feeding ingredient and how local chicken can be optimised to be as productive as imported ones product.

Odunsi disclosed that PAN is now working with universities across the country on how best to leverage the various research outcomes in the universities so that they will not just stay on the shelve.

“There are some Fulani types of chicken that are resistant to diseases, we are looking at how we can optimise it to produce at par with foreign chicken.”