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Tag: poultry

  • Customs destroys seized poultry products worth N14m in Edo

    Customs destroys seized poultry products worth N14m in Edo

    The Nigerian Customs Service on Sunday in Benin destroyed seized imported poultry products worth N14 million.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the poultry products were packed in 2, 750 cartons and were conveyed by a Dangote truck with registration number XC 449 GML when it was apprehended.

    NAN also reports that the consignment was intercepted by the Comptroller General of Customs compliance team lead by the Officer in Charge of zone ‘C’, Assistant Comptroller Musa Oseni on Friday.

    Supervising the destruction, the National Coordinator of the Comptroller General’s compliance team, Comptroller of Customs Ahmed Azarema said that the exercise was in line with the Federal Government directive on banned importation of poultry products.

    Azarema said that the directive must be enforced and urged all to educate the members of the public to do legal businesses and not contraband.

    The National Coordinator also inspected three seized trucks containing 640 bags of foreign rice, 1,147 cartons of unauthorised and unverified drugs and three automobiles and automobile spare parts.

    He disclosed that the trucks were seized on May 17th, 5th and 3rd, adding that the items would be auctioned according to law within the shortest time.

  • 102,099 cartons of imported poultry seized in 7 months

    102,099 cartons of imported poultry seized in 7 months

    ‘The tonnes of frozen poultry products intercepted during the time under review showed that the cabal behind this illicit trade has remained adamant despite the renewed onslaught by Customs’

    In about seven months no fewer than 102,099 cartons of frozen poultry products have been impounded from smugglers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the Southsouth and Southeast.

    Smugglers in the regions have had a bad run, losing over N1billion of their illegal imports.

    The seized consignments are destroyed as soon as they are grabbed. But have the smugglers been deterred by this huge loss occasioned by the clampdown on smuggling activities in the zones, recently reinvigorated by the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Comptroller Mohammed Uba, who took office last October.

    The tonnes of frozen poultry products intercepted during the time under review showed that the cabal behind this illicit trade has remained adamant despite the renewed onslaught by Customs.

    On the other hand, the Comptroller Mohammed has vowed to fight smuggling and illegal importation to a standstill, especially in the zone, describing the activities of smugglers as sabotage to the economy.

    The huge number of seizure of poultry products recorded since he took over control in the zone, showed that Customs boss is making good his threat.

    Within the short period, 102,099 cartons of illegally imported frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N1, 275,712, 500 were impounded, aside from other contraband also seized.

    Speaking recently, during the public destruction of some of the seized poultry products, Mohammed, the impounded goods were destroyed in accordance with government policy.

    He asserted that poultry is still under import prohibition and any of such found will be seized and destroyed in compliance with the relevant laws and government policies.

    Given a graphic detail of how one of the seizures was made, the Controller, revealed that “operatives of the FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri on 19 intercepted 24,032 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N259, 545,600, conveyed in a Mack Truck with registration number AJL 861 XA along Benin Ekiadolor axis by Lagos Expressway, Edo State. The poultry items include turkey parts, chicken parts, poultry gizzard amongst others”.

    He noted that the seizures were achieved through the diligence of his officers and men, who he said have recently been encouraged to put in their best with the recent promotion of Officers and men of the Service by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd).

    He reiterated the commitment of his officers to ensure that smuggling is brought to a minimal level.

    He said, “As trained officers, in the course of our duty, when we intercept any suspected goods and confirm it to be brought in contrary to the laws it will be seized and disposed of. We will continue to make sure that the public is adequately informed so that importation will be done in conformity with the laws and we will stem the menace of smuggling”.

    He further advised Nigerians against the importation of frozen poultry products, stressing that, “It adversely affects the nation’s poultry industry and have been adjudged by health authorities to be injurious to health. We have to encourage farmers and those in the agriculture sector to be productive, self-reliant, provide employment and boost the economy instead of sending out our foreign exchange and encouraging capital flight”.

    He said three suspects were arrested in connection with the recent seizures made in Benin, adding that they will soon be charged to court, while enjoining smugglers to shun the illicit business and engage in legitimate trade to boost the nation’s economy.

    On hand to witness the destruction of the poultry products were representatives of other security agencies including the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security (DSS), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Also recently, consignments of medicaments including the banned tramadol with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N178, 209,310 and other unregistered drugs were intercepted in the zone, as well as foreign rice, used shoes, machine spare parts with a DPV of N112, 617,700.

    Mohammed, who paraded the consignments before journalists, also disclosed that the Unit recovered the sum of N48, 742,845 in underpayments within the time under review.

    He said that the Nigeria Customs Service has remained unflinching in its mission to protect the wellbeing of citizens of Nigeria through the performance of her statutory duties.

    According to him, the hard work and efforts of the Unit has paid off with 17 seizures of various contraband items with duty paid value of N112, 617,700 in the month of March. The Unit during its anti-smuggling operations in March also intercepted and detained a huge consignment of medicaments worth N178, 209,310 in duty paid value. This brings the sum of duty paid value for seizures and goods in detention made in March to N250, 951,010″.

    Giving further breakdown of the seizures, the Comptroller revealed that a total of 2455 bags of rice with DPV of N77, 558,800,  1266 foot wears with DPV of N6,076,800, 307 used tyres with DPV of N3,789,600, 100 bags of used shoes with DPV of N8,100,000 and 40 bales of used clothing with DPV of N5,280,000 and three vehicles with DPV of N4,050,000.

    Also speaking on the medicaments that officers of the Unit intercepted in the Agbor axis of the Zone, the Comptroller gave the details as 268 cartons of Tramadol, 202 cartons of Pullegra, 36 cartons of Reall Octra, 928 packets of Tramadol”.

    He said a sample of the various medicaments has been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for tests and verification while the consignment is being detained for further investigations.

    Mohammed noted that “the nefarious activities of smugglers endanger the health and safety of Nigerian citizens, affects the economy, and even pose a threat to national security”.

    He reiterated the unflinching resolve of the Zone under his watch to make the Zone uncomfortable for smugglers to operate, urging Nigerians to “be patriotic and report any smuggling activities in their areas to the service, assuring that any valuable information forwarded to the Unit will be treated in confidence.

    The Comptroller commended the untiring efforts of the officers and men of the Unit who he noted have continually seen to revenue generation amounting to millions of naira.

    He noted that the continuous support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (and the Service Management team in the areas of staff training and provision of working tools has further strengthened anti-smuggling operations in the Zone.

    Mohammed therefore advised smugglers as well as fraudulent importers “to channel their resources towards legitimate trade and economic ventures and desist from engaging in smuggling activities, warning that the NCS will not renege on its statutory functions of suppression of smuggling.

     

  • 500 widows become poultry farmers in Edo

    500 widows become poultry farmers in Edo

    Edo State governor’s wife Mrs. Betsy Obaseki has distributed birds to 500 widows to become poultry farmers.

    She said this was part of the government’s campaign promises.

    The widows, who were given feeds that would enable them feed the birds for three months, were trained in how to rear birds.

    Mrs. Obaseki distributed the birds when she launched the Edo Women for Agriculture programme as part of activities to mark the International Women Day.

    She said the empowerment was to give widows monthly stipends and boost the production of rural women, to tackle food shortages and poverty.

    The first lady said

    the programme was for everybody, irrespective of political leanings.

    She said: “We will create a revolution in rural poultry production that will increase productivity and income for rural women and empower them to transform access of poor households to source animal protein.

    “I brought the best company in poultry business to ensure food security. The demand for chicken and eggs is very high. We will create market for the widows to sell the birds.

    “After we succeed with this, we will extend it to thousands of women. I will churn out initiatives for women to have opportunities to be rich.

    “We are not doing politics, we are doing governance. Edo indigenes are allowed to join this administration. We will not behave like people with small minds. This is no time for politics.”

    Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu said the government would identify people with good initiatives and empower them.

    He said vulnerable persons would be empowered.

    The deputy governor said the people might have been expecting to go home with sewing machines, motorcycles and hair dressing machines, but the first lady, working in line with All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) mantra, change, gave them chickens, which they could rear and make money.

    Some of the beneficiaries said they could become millionaires.

    They said they were trained in how to market birds.

  • ‘Poultry farmers struggling with high production cost’

    Poultry farmers are facing high production costs, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, has said.

    Oduntan, who spoke in Lagos, said the industry was facing shortages of products required for proper husbandry, adding that some farmers have been forced to pull out of the business.

    He said rising feed prices have affected the cost of egg production.

    Oduntan said the price of maize per tonne has risen to N120,000, while soyabeans cost N145,000. The prices were N60,000 and N80,000 two years ago. Feed supplements, such as fish and bone meals, have also risen.

    As a result of the increase, feed ingredient prices and production cost per dozen for egg producers have also risen, he said,

    Given that projected demand for corn is likely to increase and continued naira depreciation inevitable, he said poultry producers’ costs and profitability would be negatuvely affected. Oduntan noted that Nigeria loses about N700 billion annually to smuggled poultry products.

    According to him, the smuggled products, which are majorly frozen chicken and turkey, have negative impact on Nigerians.

    He regretted that the government was yet to compensate farmers who suffered losses as a result of cooperating with the government to destroy the affected birds.

    Oduntan noted that the association would not relent in its efforts and would continue to focus on policy, advocacy and institutional linkages that would put poultry production on the path of excellence.

    He said the association’s National Poultry Show has been scheduled for between November 29 and 30, at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Industry leaders, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs are expected at the event billed to help create a sustainable poultry industry.

  • Group aims for Group aims for self-sufficiency in poultry, eggs

    Tuns Group, a leader in the agricultural and agro-allied industry, has said it is working to reduce imports of poultry and eggs and achieve food self-sufficiency.

    It said its investment in the Osun State poultry  industry  would boost job creation and help the country achieve self-sufficiency in white meat.

    The group said it was expanding its chicken farm to boost the quantity of poultry produced in the country. The site has facilities, including a large unit dedicated to broiler breeding – fast-growing breeds of chicken raised for their meat.

    There are poultry farms, hatchery poultry farms, a slaughter house and a section for processing poultry products.The processing plant manager, Olawoye Olumide, said the new facility would increase the company’s capacity by over 100 per cent of its production.

    According to him, the exercise would lead to a reduction in the processing time, increase the number of chicken processed to 20,000 birds per day as well as reduce the blast freezing time from about eight hours to two hours.

    “We have an installed processing capacity of 15,000 birds per day. By the time we are through with our planned overhaul, this will increase to 20,000 per day,” he added.

  • Sahel fund invests in poultry farm

    Sahel Capital is investing in the modernisation of Dayntee Farms Limited, a commercial poultry farm in Kwara State.

    This is to help the company increase the supply of more hygienic produce for consumers.

    Sahel Capital is the fund manager for Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria ( FAFIN), an agribusiness focused SME private equity fund.

    It manages a multimillion investment fund for agribusiness in Nigeria, with particular focus on SMEs.

    Sahel Capital Managing Partner, Mezuo Nwuneli  said the amount invested and stake is confidential.

    Founded in 2011, Dayntee Farms produces various poultry products, including table eggs, day old chicks and point of lay birds, which it supplies to customers across the country. Its Managing Director is Ayodele Alade, who has led the company’s steady growth from inception.

    Dayntee Farms is strategically located between the large poultry market of the Southwest and the grain producing regions of the North, which enables it to source raw materials at relatively low cost and sell its products at competitive prices.

    According to Alade, “Sahel Capital has come in at a time Dayntee Farms is ready to move to the next stage of its growth. They are the right kind of partner for us because they share our vision for the company and have the expertise and resources to help us realise it.”

    A Partner at Sahel Capital, Mr. Olumide Lawson, noted: “We decided to invest in Dayntee Farms after a thorough analysis of the opportunities in the poultry sector. We are, particularly, excited that Dayntee Farms is the latest addition to our portfolio and have full confidence in its management team.

  • ‘Research can boost poultry, animal production’

    For poultry and animal production to be viable, they must be research-driven, an expert, Dr Olugbenga Ogunwole has said.

    Ogunwole of the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, spoke  during a a workshop by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Ibadan.

    The poultry sector, he said, is one of the sustainable and decent employers of labour in Nigeria, and has a predictable and high return on investment across the value chain of breeding, production, feeding production and supply chains.

    Ogunwole, however, said challenges of the poultry production sector, such as vagaries of weather, poor elasticity of production, high cost of poultry feeds and vaccination, poor production efficiency, sub-standard inputs and activities of quacks parading themselves as professionals, among others, had encumbered the growth of the sector and hence the economy.

    On how the sector could boost the economy, especially in hard times, Ogunwole said affordable labour, high demand for eggs, poults and increasing demand for cheaper sources of protein as the population increases and urban dwellers surges were factors energising the poultry industry to contribute to the local production, processing and utilisation of the products.

    As the way forward, he suggested a strategy to make the industry competitive – effective linkage with research institutes and new technologies like the one between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israeli poultry farmers.

    Speaking on the theme, ‘Enhancing Nigerian economy through poultry,’Oyo State P oultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Chairman, Mr Olabanji Akanji, said poultry has great potential for revamping the economy if given the needed attention by stakeholders.

    “While we covet and plead for massive government support for the industry, we cannot but keep investing in the industry in our own little way as individuals for all these have effects on the nation’s economy.

  • Poultry farmers ready for Fed Govt’s Home Grown School Feeding policy

    Poultry farmers ready for Fed Govt’s Home Grown School Feeding policy

    The National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN),Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, has said of the  the association in has the capacity to meet up the various demands and challenges that might arise from the Home Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government

    The natnudO Foods boss, however, added that it might take up to four years or longer for the country can reach self-sufficiency status if the needed support is not forthcoming to the sector

    Addressing reporters after a tour of the facilities at Amo Byng Nigeria and Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited  in Awe, Afijio Local Government, Oyo State, the natnudO Foods boss explained that if properly harnessed, the poultry value chain has the capacity to absorb millions of people and make them economically productive

    Oduntan said: “The local poultry sector has the capacity to produce and meet the poultry demands that will arise from the new government policy of home grown school feeding programme

    “We advocated for the inclusion of eggs and poultry foods in the meals to be given the school children and I can assure you that, if given the needed support in terms of fund and materials we will meet the demands

    “Meeting local consumption demand is achievable in two years at the rate we are growing, we only need patience and support, but if we are denied such, it might take up to another four years before we can attain that level”

    According to Oduntan, the amount of money spent by entrepreneurs in providing infrastructure and facilities to keep business running is huge and diversionary.

    He said: “We are here because as producers of natnudO chicken, we want to show Nigeria and Nigerians that with a little bit of support and patience, Nigeria can be sufficient in the production of poultry produce.

    “We are a Nigerian company and we can lead the way for other poultry farmers to produce enough that will be sufficient for Nigerians and save our people from the hazards of smuggled poultry products into the country

    “Our target as a company is to make at least ten percent of total poultry production for the Nigerian market in the next five years”

    “Our motivation has been to create jobs for the people and bring something out from nothing. We need the banks to believe in us more and support us with funds to run the sector,” the natnudO Foods boss said.

  • Bird flu: Plans underway to shut unregistered poultry farms

    •Ebonyi, Plateau confirm bird flu outbreak

    The Federal Government has said it will shut unregistered poultry farms, following a fresh outbreak of the Avian Influenza (AI).

    Director of Veterinary Services and Pest Control Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Egejuru Eze said this at a sensitisation campaign for poultry farmers in Kuje and Gwagwalada councils, Abuja, at the weekend.

    She said the move would  check unwholesome poultry products and encourage tracking of poultry farms whenever there is disease outbreak.

    Dr. Eze said a situation where individuals arbitrarily set up poultry farms without licence would not be condoned.

    She said poultry farmers should register at the nearest government veterinary office so that they could benefit from government support.

    According to her, the Federal Government paid about N700 million as compensation to poultry farmers during the last bird flu outbreak, with N500 million still outstanding.

    She said one should be proactive and engage in bio-security, instead of waiting for compensation and spreading the virus.

    Dr. Gidado Muhammed of the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services described bird flu as a highly infectious and contagious disease.

    He said the virus affects different species of birds, such as chicken, ducks, guinea fowls and others, which lives naturally in the wild.

    Muhammed added that it could be transmitted from infected domestic and wild migratory birds.

    He identified bio-security as a major means to safeguard the farms and stop spread of the disease.

    “Some of the measures to be taken is to keep poultry closed, screen buildings on the farm to prevent entry of rats, birds and reptiles that can carry the virus into the building, separation of poultry from other animals and from other poultry species, no standing bodies of water on the farm as this can attract wild birds that may be carriers.

    “Controlling the movement of people, animals, equipment and vehicles in and out of and within the farm. The farm should be fenced with a bowl containing disinfectant at the gate and entrance of each pen etc,” he advised.

    Ebonyi and Plateau states have confirmed an outbreak of bird flu

    The virus was detected in a poultry farm at Ugwuachara area of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Orji Uchenna, confirmed the detection of the virus after a visit to the farm for an on-the-spot assessment.

    According to him, the attention of his ministry was drawn to the development following massive death of the birds.

    He said officials of the state veterinary services took a sample of the carcass to a research institute in Jos, where it was confirmed that the birds died from the H5NI strains of the Avian Influenza.

    Orji directed the  Veterinary Department to isolate the farm and take inventory of poultry and ancillary farms as well as sustain enlightenment on the influenza.

    Also, the Plateau Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Linda Barau, said four farms were affected, with thousands of birds isolated.

    Barau said efforts were being intensified to ensure that the disease did not spread to other farms.

    She said farmers were advised to maintain a higher sense of bio-security to avoid spread of the disease.

    The commissioner noted that she directed the director of Veterinary Services to liaise with farmers. Mrs. Barau advised them not to panic as the situation was under control.

     

  • Global poultry industry ‘ll rebound, says report

    A positive year is expected for the global poultry industry next year, but the sector needs to recover from the challenges incurred by recent avian influenza outbreaks, according to the most recent quarterly report of Rabobank.

    According to it, key fundamentals for the global poultry outlook for next year are positive. The groups indicated that feed prices are expected to remain low, while competitive protein prices for beef and pork will be relatively high.

    Excessive supply expansion has outstripped continued strong fundamentals – robust demand, ongoing low feed prices and relatively high competitive protein prices – in recent months, after multiple quarters of balanced supply/demand, the latest Rabobank report states.

    This has pressured producer profitability in most regions of the world. Markets in China and Thailand will also likely be impacted by avian influenza (AI)-related import restrictions on breeding stock by the US in 2H 2016, also potentially affecting global poultry markets.

    Looking ahead to 2016, the company noted that key fundamentals suggest a good year ahead for the industry, but whether the industry can really benefit from these positive fundamentals highly depends on supply rebalancing to new market circumstances and on further developments surrounding Bird Flu.