Oyo Poultry Farmers Are Out Of Business

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 News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

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

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

“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 that they grind it, spread it and 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 the rate of N850 per kg.

He, however, said that this had constituted a big challenge to 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 increasing,” he said.

He urged the Federal and State Governments to rise to their challenges to bring back those already out of business and encourage others still in business.

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

He further stated that the importation of frozen chicken was greatly affecting the market price of chicken, a situation he said should not be allowed to continue.