Kaduna’s poultry project will produce 1 million eggs weekly, say investors

Officials of Olam International have disclosed that the $130 million feed mill, breeding farms and hatchery whose foundation was laid by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at the weekend, would produce over one million eggs weekly.

It is expected to be Nigeria’s largest integrated animal feed mill project and the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa.

The foreign investor, Olam International explained that the project, which would be commissioned 15 months from now, would be powered by solar energy.

Olam’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Africa, Mr. Venkataramani Srivathsan, said at the groundbreaking ceremony by Governor El-Rufai, that: “This is the latest investment by Olam in Nigeria’s domestic food and agricultural production sector after our recent investments in wheat milling assets and the ongoing development of 10,000-hectare rice farm and mill in Nasarawa State.”

He added: “By investing in poultry and fish feed, we can utilise the wheat bran from our wheat milling operations, as well as maximize our sourcing networks to buy corn and soy from local farmers.

“Of the $150 million in total investments, approximately $100 million (about N20 billion) has been committed to building and operating the facilities in Kaduna State while $50 million (N10 billion) is for a second investment in an integrated poultry and fish feed mill located in Kwara State.”

According to a statement yesterday by the Head, Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria, Mr. Ade Adefeko: “At full capacity, both feed mills are expected to produce in excess of 600,000 tonnes per annum of high-quality poultry and fish feed, with the Kaduna facility supplying mainly to the northern markets and the one in Kwara to the South West region.

“The poultry breeding farm in Kaduna is expected to produce over one million eggs every week for the hatchery. The feed mills will procure most of their corn and soybean requirements locally, spurring growth of these domestic crops.”