•Oyo Govt To Distributes 11,000 Bags To Support Farmers
The Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria (PAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has expressed concerns over the shut down of over 127 poultry farms in the area due to high cost of feed.

The Secretary of Association, Musa Hakeem, who voiced out the worries of the association during the World Egg Day celebration in Abuja, lamented that the industry was facing multiple challenges, stating that while it was struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hit with the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He noted that poultry farmers are now contending with the effects of fuel subsidy removal and high cost of maize.

According to him, the unavailability of materials for feed was causing many of the farms to shut down.

He called for the urgent intervention of the FCT Minister, Nyeson Wike, stressing that many farms in the FCT were finding it difficult to stay afloat.

“We are calling on the FCT minister to ensure that the poultry industry in the FCT is well supported so that more investors can come in to provide employment opportunities for the women and youths,” he said.

A member of the association, Abdullahi Abduljabar, noted that the challenges were not limited to the FCT alone, but extended to the entire poultry industry in the country.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State government, yesterday, revealed its plans to distribute about 11,000 bags of poultry feeds to 1,691 poultry farmers in the state, as part of its continued efforts to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, revealed this while declaring open the World Egg Day celebration in Ibadan.

According to him, the move would enhance and promote food security in the state.

Olasunkwnmi maintained that the efforts of poultry farmers in food security could not be underestimated, hence the state government’s interest to regulate the poultry business in the state.

He noted that it would help the ministry have accurate data of poultry farmers in the state and to ensure quality production for public consumption.

Olasunkanmi also explained that 11,000 bags of feed have been set aside for poultry farmers, saying accurate data could only help the ministry to extend the government’s good gesture to the sector.