The Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Omidokun Oyekunle, says half of the poultry farmers in the state are currently out of business.

Oyekunle disclosed this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

The chairman, who noted that poultry business contributed about 25 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, said if the rate at which poultry business was collapsing was not checked, it might have negative effect on the nation’s economy.

He urged the federal and state governments to rise up to the farmers’ challenges in order to bring back those who were already out of business and encourage others who were still in business.

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

The Oyo PAN chairman identified one of the challenges confronting poultry farmers as high cost of poultry feeds, especially maize and soya beans, both of which he said are major ingredients of poultry feeds.

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

Oyekunle said: “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.

Poultry farmers: Over 30% farms shut in 6 months

“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.”

The chairman stated that most poultry farmers were now using old maize which could be gotten at the rate of N850 per kg.

He, however, noted that this had constituted a big challenge to poultry farmers because of the high production cost.

He added: “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 no enough profit margin to keep the business running and that is why poultry farmers are closing down and cost of eggs increasing.”

Oyekunle further stated that the importation of frozen chicken was greatly affecting the market price of chicken and this should not be allowed to continue in order to keep them in business.

Oyekunle commended the federal government for the window of importation of maize, adding that it would eventually help lower the cost of production and bring people back into the business.

The Oyo PAN chairman said: “A 25kg of broiler feed is now sold for N25,600, which cannot feed more than 200 birds; that is our plight.

“With the window of importation recently granted by government, it will lower the cost of production.”

The Star