Nigeria’s Poultry sector is currently in the middle of a productivity crisis and the Poultry Association of Nigeria has called for urgent intervention from the government.
During a press conference last month, the Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), South-West Zone, Rev. Oluleye Gideon, blamed the recent naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the problem.
He explained the cash shortage that was occasioned by the implementation of the policy meant that lots of eggs could not be sold. He, therefore, urged the government to mop up 20 million unsold crates of eggs.
Rev Gideon also urged FG’s developmental agencies to save the subsector of the economy from total collapse, as it contributes about 6% to GDP. He said:
“They should help in mopping up about 15 to 20 million crates of eggs and chicken unsold in the economy right now to ameliorate the losses of the farmers.
“These products should be used in feeding the people in IDPs and all our correctional centres all over the country.
“Some could also be used in the government hospitals where meals are served as eggs helps for quick recovery and in building up the immunity of the sick patients.”
Nation-wide egg mop-up
A few weeks before the reveal of the 20 million unsold crates of eggs statement, Mr Godwin Egbebe, National Publicity Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), also called on the FG to intervene in the current egg glut in the poultry market.
Mr Godwin Egbebe said farmers were running at a loss due to the glut and appealed for government intervention at all levels, adding:
“Due to the current egg glut, major poultry farms have now dropped their prices and are encountering total loss.
“At large farm gates, a crate of eggs now goes for as low as N1,700 and N1,800 as against N2,000 or N2,100 that was sold just weeks ago.
“The egg glut is on the increase, the farmers are churning out eggs every day but there are low demands following the cash crunch in the country.”
