By Olasubomi Olateju
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has urged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the rising cost of poultry feed in the country.
With the topic “Adapting to economic realities: Innovative Approaches to poultry production amidst raw material deficit,” the association made the plea during the opening ceremony of the 13th edition of the Nigeria Poultry Show in Abeokuta.
The Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr. Samuel Olalekan Odunsi, noted in his opening speech that the challenge of the rising cost of poultry feed as well as other challenges facing the poultry industry were greatly affecting the sector.
“The poultry industry in Nigeria is a critical sector that contributes to the country’s food security, employment, and national economy. However, the industry faces challenges that have grossly derailed its growth and sustainability.” He stressed.
Dr. Joe Dada, Chairman of the Board of Livestock Feeds Plc, who gave the keynote address at the event, also urged the Federal Government to support the agriculture sector to guarantee food security while appealing to the poultry farmers to embrace new technological innovations.
“These new technological innovations in agribusiness value chains have been instrumental in promoting innovative solutions that improve farmers’ profitability and sustainability with a focus on technology-driven optimization and capacity building.”
“Nigeria’s poultry industry stands at a threshold of history; the path forward demands innovations, collaboration, and decisive actions. The current situation presents an opportunity to rethink traditional practices and challenge age-long material inputs that will pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient poultry sector,” Dr. Joe Dada concluded.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the South-West Zone of the association, Rev. Gideon Oluleye, said the show aimed to find lasting solutions to confront the challenges facing the poultry industry and revive it.
“Let the government increase funding into agriculture, particularly the poultry subsector. We are also enjoining the government to create a market for farmers through policies like the school feeding program.
“As we all know that this sector has faced many challenges in the inflationary situation of our economy, we want to urge you all to persevere and hold forth in your various businesses, for things will soon change for the better,” Oluleye said.
The association’s national president, Mr. Sunday Ezeobiora, who was represented at the event by Onu Izuo Lisa, the vice president of South East, in his remarks decried the high cost of production, listing funding, infrastructure, and marketing as some of the challenges presently facing the poultry industry.
“But I would like to use this medium to appreciate the federal government for creating the Ministry of Livestock, and we believe that the federal government through this ministry will intervene in sustainability in the various challenges this subsector of the economy has faced over the years.”
A panel of discussants, which included Dr. Moses Arokoyo of Boehringer Ingelheim animal health, Mr. Christopher Bielecki, the agricultural counselor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in the U.S., Mr. Ayooluwa Okedeji, Dr. Rotimi Akinlolu of NG-Poultry Plus, and Dr. James Baba Wageti of Adamore Nig. Limited, which was moderated by Foluso Alabi, a team lead for USSEC in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
The highlight of the event was the tour of exhibition booths where different poultry equipment and feeds, among others, were displayed by about 130 exhibitors, which comprise major players in the agro-equipment business.
Among the exhibitors are USSOY, the major sponsor, and others, which include Animal Care, TOPFEEDS, HI-PRO, Bifems, Agro Bar Magen, Sun Seed Nigeria, Obasanjo Farms, KEMIN, Terratiga Ltd., YAMMFY Farms, TOSAM, Big Dutchman, Jubaili Agrotec, Cifek International Ltd., ADM, Sunseed Feeds, Peak Feeds, and Vetilog Phama Nig. CHI, among others.