The South West Zone of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Governors in the region to take urgent action to prevent the collapse of the poultry industry. Gideon Oluleye, the Zonal Chairman of PAN, highlighted the challenges facing the industry, including the impact of the naira redesign policy and the removal of fuel subsidies. These factors have led to a significant increase in the cost of inputs for poultry farming.
Oluleye noted that recent interventions, such as maize allocations by the CBN and the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), were not effectively executed. He explained that despite efforts to negotiate lower prices for maize, the allocation was withdrawn when farmers struggled to meet the payment deadline. This has resulted in unnecessary scarcity and a sharp increase in maize prices, putting additional strain on poultry farmers.
The chairman called for a reduction in the price of soybeans for the poultry and livestock sector. He also urged the Federal Government and the CBN to subsidize and facilitate the importation of maize and soybeans to address the current shortfall and prevent the collapse of the sector.
Elder Oyekunle Omidokun, the PAN Chairman of Oyo State chapter, emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector, which has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provided employment opportunities. He highlighted the challenges posed by high costs of fuel, foreign exchange scarcity, and the resulting impact on the cost of vaccines and veterinary drugs. Omidokun urged the government to release discounted maize to PAN and called on the CBN and NCX to promptly release allocated maize to support the poultry industry.
The plea from PAN underscores the critical role of government intervention in supporting key sectors of the economy and ensuring food security in the face of challenges. The poultry industry plays a significant role in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and requires sustainable policies and support to thrive and contribute to the country’s overall economic development.
