Poultry Farmers Seek Improved Funding To Enhance Egg Production For Nigeria's Food Sufficiency

...says Nigeria has 63million chickens with 10.3b annual eggs production 

Some Members Of The Engr. Asenuga Led PANOG Committee

Ahead of the World Eggs Day anniversary slated for tomorrow Friday, the Ogun State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PANOG) on Wednesday, lamented what it termed as poor funding, insecurity, as well as the "low consumption ratio of eggs" which it said is hampering the development of the sector in the country.

This is just as PANOG disclosed that Nigeria as at October 2022, currently has 63 Million chickens producing an annual units of 10 Billion eggs from all the poultry farms  spread across the country, with Ogun State inputs of 10 million of them.

PANOG State chairman, Engr. Idowu Asenuga, who disclosed this on yesterday in Abeokuta while addressing newsmen ahead of this year's World Eggs Day celebration, called on both the state and federal governments, as well as other critical stakeholders in the sector to assist towards ensuring that poultry farmers have access to single digit interest credit facility and provision of adequate security to enhance farming activities.

Lamenting the poor funding which he said has continued to jeopardize poultry farmers' existence in business, Asenuga also decried the situation whereby an average of 50 eggs per person are consumed annually as against China which produces 472,6billion eggs per year with 315 eggs consumption per person annually.

PANOG's state chairman also identified rising cost of feeds among other challenges hurting poultry farming which he said is ochestrated by the high cost of sourcing grains for preparing chicken feeds.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State government assured that it will not renege in its efforts at prioritizing the safety of poultry farmers as well as their investment across the state.

Speaking through the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on agriculture, Dr Angel Adelaja - Kuye, the government, which recalled that a synergy already existed between it and the farmers, vowed to ensure that funds from the federal government for poultry farmers is timed right and does stand at the detriment of farmers.

In his health advice which he delivered earlier, Dr. Nurudeen Gbadamosi of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta dispelled the myths and misconceptions that eggs consumption is unhealthy, particularly to persons of certain age because of the erroneous belief that it could lead to building up of bad cholesterol.

Emphasizing that people of certain age should not be scared of eating eggs due to its health benefits, Gbadamosi said egg contains vital vitamins, minerals and protein required regular to maintain healthy body function, build body immune system, supply energy for work and for blood clothing in the event of injury.

The Catalyst Cable