Half of Oyo poultry farmers out of business – Chairman

Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Oyo State chapter, Mr. Omidokun Oyekunle, says no fewer than half of the poultry farmers in the state are currently out of business.

Oyekunle made this disclosure in an interview with the newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.

The chairman, who noted that poultry business contributed about 25 percent to Nigeria’s GDP, said if the rate at which poultry business was collapsing was not checked, it might have a negative effect on the nation’s economy.

He urged the federal and state governments to rise up to their challenges in order to bring back those who were already out of business and encourage others who were still in business.

Oyekunle enjoined the government to give soft loans to poultry farmers in the state at not more than a five percent interest rate, as well as other interventions in terms of raw materials, especially maize and soy beans.

He identified one of the challenges confronting poultry farmers as the high cost of poultry feeds, especially maize and soy beans, both of which are major ingredients in poultry feeds.

According to him, the cost of maize is still expensive in spite of the rainy season, adding that new maize is currently sold at between N650 and N700 per 200 kg.

“The majority of poultry farmers are no longer using the new maize because of its moisture content; it will affect production and the eggs of the birds.

“What those who are using it do is grind it, spread it, wait for about five days, and even add some preservatives, but the weather is not favourable,” he said.

The chairman said that most poultry farmers were now using old maize, which could be gotten at a rate of N850 per kg.

He, however, said that this had constituted a big challenge for poultry farmers because of the high production cost.

“This is a major problem confronting us, especially when you look at the production cost and the amount we sell eggs.

“You will find out that there is not enough profit margin to keep the business running, and that is why poultry farmers are closing down and the cost of eggs is increasing,” he said.

He further stated that the importation of frozen chicken was greatly affecting the market price of chicken, and this should not be allowed to continue in order to keep them in business.

Oyekunle commended the federal government for the window of importation of maize, adding that it would eventually help in lowering the cost of production and bring people back into the business.

“A 25kg of broiler feed is now sold for N25,600, which cannot feed more than 200 birds; that is our plight.

“With the window of importation recently granted by government, it will lower the cost of production,” he said.