Poultry farmers groan as feed prices soar

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) on Friday called for urgent intervention by President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the astronomical hike in the cost of poultry feeds.

The association said that the failure of the government to take urgent action to mitigate this challenge would lead to the total collapse of the poultry sub-sector of the economy.

Mr. Hakeem Musa, Secretary of PAN, FCT Chapter, made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja.

Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Mushak Agro Consult, frowned at the perpetual hike in the price of feed, adding that the government could intervene by giving grants to farmers in order to remain in business.

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) on Friday called for urgent intervention by President Bola Tinubu’s administration on the astronomical hike in the cost of poultry feeds.

The association said that the failure of the government to take urgent action to mitigate this challenge would lead to the total collapse of the poultry sub-sector of the economy.

Mr. Hakeem Musa, Secretary of PAN, FCT Chapter, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Mushak Agro Consult, frowned at the perpetual hike in the price of feed, adding that the government could intervene by giving grants to farmers in order to remain in business.

Citing an example with layers mash, Musa said a 25-kg bag of feed as of November ended was N8,000 plus; the first week of last month rose to N9,100; the second week was N9,350; the third week was N9,550.

He, however, said that at the moment, the same bag of feed had risen to N10,950.

“Nobody knows whether this increment is going to stop anytime soon because November and December are supposed to be times for surpluses of maize, and if it is this expensive, what are we expecting from February and March?

“We are praying that President Tinubu’s administration will focus attention on the industry and are also confident and hopeful that intervention will be given to the poultry sub-sector of the country.

“The basic intervention we need is grants, not loans, to sustain the industry because, over time, farmers have lost a lot of money, so if they are taking loans now, they will not be able to pay them back,” he said.

The secretary attributed the high cost of feed to inadequate maize and soybeans being major ingredients for feed production, as well as a ban on maize importation.

According to him, the hike in feed has negatively impacted the farmers, as a lot of farms have shut down, while some other farmers have also drastically reduced the capacity of their birds.

He, however, said that at the moment, the same bag of feed had risen to N10,950.

“Nobody knows whether this increment is going to stop anytime soon because November and December are supposed to be times for surpluses of maize, and if it is this expensive, what are we expecting from February and March?

“We are praying that President Tinubu’s administration will focus attention on the industry and are also confident and hopeful that intervention will be given to the poultry sub-sector of the country.

“The basic intervention we need is grants, not loans, to sustain the industry because, over time, farmers have lost a lot of money, so if they are taking loans now, they will not be able to pay them back,” he said.

The secretary attributed the high cost of feed to inadequate maize and soybeans being major ingredients for feed production, as well as a ban on maize importation.

According to him, the hike in feed has negatively impacted the farmers, as a lot of farms have shut down, while some other farmers have also drastically reduced the capacity of their birds.