The Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria (PAN) has reported a loss exceeding five billion Naira and the closure of more than 127 poultry farms due to the adverse economic effects resulting from the removal of fuel subsidies. Musa Hakeem, the Secretary of PAN’s Federal Capital Territory Chapter, made this revelation while addressing journalists during the World Egg Day celebration in Abuja over the weekend.
Hakeem also pointed out that there were additional factors contributing to these losses, including challenges related to foreign exchange (forex) and the prohibition of maize and soybean imports. Hakeem went on to enumerate various other difficulties afflicting the poultry industry, such as a high incidence of diseases, limited access to credit facilities, elevated feed costs, and the presence of subpar chick quality.
In response to these challenges, Hakeem called for the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to involve PAN in the ministry’s ‘Home Grown School Feeding program, specifically with regards to the supply of eggs. He emphasized that this collaborative effort could lead to the creation of wealth and employment opportunities throughout the supply chain.
Hakeem underscored the significance of World Egg Day as an occasion to raise awareness about the nutritional value of eggs, which serve as an outstanding and cost-effective source of high-quality nutrients. He stressed that eggs play pivotal socio-economic roles, including providing a means of livelihood, facilitating economic independence, addressing human dietary protein needs, encouraging investment, and offering security against risks for small-scale poultry farmers.