The Nation Newspaper

Tag: poultry

  • Poultry group canvasses electricity tariff relief

    Poultry group canvasses electricity tariff relief

    The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN)  is seeking  the government‘s support for  electricity tariff relief for producers.

    Its National President, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, said  electricity tariffs are too high for profitable business.

    Addressing its summit in Lagos, Oduntan said PAN has got the support of Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) for a reduction in electricity tariffs.

    To this end,he  said the association is working with NERC to ensure the directives to Electricity  Distribution Companies to implement the agriculture and agro based industries tariffs for the  sector, including poultry farming.

    According to him, the price  poultry  farmers are  offering  the market does not even recover cost of production, let alone a reasonable profit margin.

    He warned of  declining production while pleading for a rescue package, including some concessionary loans for farmers to bring them back into business and deferring loan payments for those who are surviving on the edge.

    According to him, if the poultry business is not rescued, the situation can worsen: production would decline further as more farmers leave, leading to squeezed supplies.

    He  urged  the  government to introduce policies and programmes for reducing their production cost, adding  that  though  poultry entrepreneurs  are trying  to achieve   self-sufficiency in poultry products,   they cannot compete with  smuggled  products from neighbouring markets .

    According to him, around 70 per cent of their investment goes to procure feed, adding that the producers have no option but to import feed as local production cannot meet the growing demand.

    He urged the government to encourage farmers to grow maize and soybean to bring down poultry production costs, adding that the industry will be competitive only if the government encouraged farmers to embrace new technologies.

  • UNILORIN to host world poultry summit

    The World Poultry Science Association will hold its fifth Nigeria International

    Poultry Summit (NIPS) at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The event will start on Sunday, May 10 and end on Thursday, May 14.

    A statement by the secretary local organising committee of the summit, Dr Eunice Sola-Ojo, said the occasion would proffer solutions to various challenges facing the poultry industry such as poultry production (health, bio-security, nutrition, breeding and genetics and biotechnology) through presentation of findings of scientific researches, and reviews of past researches.

    She added that graduate of animal science will be specially trained on how to build careers in poultry science.

    “I so much believe that this programme will be of immense benefits to the masses, poultry farmers and students of animal science in Nigeria tertiary institutions,” she said.

  • Poultry house inaugurated

    The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State has taken delivery of a new poultry house that can accommodate 2000 birds.

    The facility would be managed by the poultry unit of the school’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Vocational Studies (CEDVS).

    Unveiling the new cages and the 2,000 layers’ bird in the new block penultimate Thursday, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, praised the unit for using its savings to add the new layers-egg production lines.

    Dr. Akande was conducted round the facility by the Director of the CEDVS, Mr. A.A. Jimoh, who said Nigeria should diversify her economy by embracing entrepreneurship.

    Entrepreneurship, according to her, was the only way out of the nation’s economic woes, particularly with the dwindling oil prizes in the world market.

    The Rector said she was proud of the achievements of the poultry unit, which moved from having just 600 birds at inception to 2,000 within a space of 18 months. On his part, the Director of the Centre, Jimoh, thanked the management for its support, and promised to do more.

  • Ministry moves to curb poultry diseases

    Ministry moves to curb poultry diseases

    THE Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, has begun the training of stakeholders in the poultry industry  to enhance disease prevention, detection and control.

    Speaking at a workshop in Nasarawa State, yesterday, Departmental Director Dr. Ademola Raji said the training was a response to the attention given to animal health globally.

    Raji, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Dr John Taiwo, said the workshop, titled: ‘Behaviour Change in Biosecurity in Poultry Production’, would arm stakeholders in disease prevention.

    He said the workshop was also a response to the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza, saying that proper knowledge and application of biosecurity would help curb the ugly situation.

    “The workshop has the objectives of developing an action plan in all aspects of disease detection, prevention and control, explain appropriate biosecurity for poultry farms and live birds market in rural and urban areas.

    “It would build capacity in technical, communication skills and advise poultry growers, sellers and live birds marketing administrators in developing a biosafety plan,” he said.

    Registrar, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NAIS) Dr Oyedele Oyedeji said the workshop would address challenges facing the sector.

    He said it would impact the standards used in crop and animal production, addng that “products are as good as the process used in producing them.”

    Oyedeji noted that the participating stakeholders were required to train farmers and other actors along the poultry value chain in their localities.

    The registrar urged the Federal Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services to convene a meeting of stakeholders to review the livestock policy for Nigeria. This, he said, would give a proper direction to animal breeding and genetics, animal nutrition, marking, operating procedures and animal welfare to be disseminated to states through extension services.

     

     

  • Poultry producers urged to remain vigilant

    Poultry producers urged to remain vigilant

    Poultry producers have been urged to remain vigilant following a case of bird flu recorded in most parts  of the  world.

    The call came as poultry farmers worldwide work with governments and the wider industry to minimise the impacts of bird flu strain, which poses a low risk to humans.

    Speaking  with  The Nation,  the  Dean, Faculty  of Agriculture, University  of Ilorin, Prof  Abiodun  Adeloye,  said  the  sector  needs a   robust action  to prevent the spread of potential infection, and it  should   be carried out in a safe and humane manner by fully trained staff.

    In case, the sector  records any  epidemic,  Adeloye  said   dead livestock  should  be  sent for rendering as  well  as  an  exclusion zone put in place around the affected farm.

    In addition to this, he  said movements of all poultry products and wastes within the restriction zone are banned while poultry has to be housed or isolated within the zone.

    He urged poultry producers to remain vigilant and continue with on-farm hygiene and biosecurity measures, adding that anyone who suspects that their birds might be ill should inform their local veterinary officers as soon as possible.

    According to him, consumers need to be aware that it is a bird health issue and that eating poultry products is safe.

    Deputy  Director, Department of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training  Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin,Dr  Ademola Adeyemo,  called  on  poultry owners to  improve  surveillance  and monitoring  of their  farms  to prevent the  spread  of diseases.

    According to him,  poultry diseases can  find a fertile  ground  to grow  where  there are   mycotoxins to   decrease resistance.

    He  said   immunity acquired through vaccination can be impaired by ingestion of mycotoxins.

    He  said  mycotoxins may alter animals’ susceptibility to infectious diseases by affecting intestinal health and the innate and adaptive immune systems.

  • Poultry lifts agric GDP with 25%

    The poultry industry contributes over 25 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the agricultural sector, the President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan has said.

    He said an egg a day for 50 per cent of the population would produce a daily economic value of N1.7billion.

    He also said Nigeria is the largest producer of eggs in Africa.

    Dr. Oduntan spoke at a press briefing to mark the 2014 World Egg Day in Abuja with the theme: An Egg a Day for the Nigerian Child.

    According to him, an average Nigerian consumes 60 eggs per person annually.

    He said: “In order to achieve the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Agenda ahead of us, the importance of poultry products especially chickens and eggs which contribute about 36.5 per cent of the protein intake of Nigerians would need to be taken seriously.

    “Eggs and chicken are critical pillars of the successful attainment of the Millennium Development Goals for agriculture and health.”

    Dr. Oduntan added that eggs will improve the well being of the citizen and their diet.

  • Poultry faces rising feeds’ prices

    Poultry  is facing hard times following the soaring prices of feeds.

    Poultry  feeds account for  about 70  per cent of  the  total  cost of  chicken production.

    Speaking with The Nation, the   President, Poultry Association of Nigeria(PAN), Dr Ayo Oduntan  said  the  increase is  affecting   poultry  producers,  which relies heavily on animal feeds.

    He said the  prices of   soya bean  and  maize  which are   major components  in the  feed formulation matrix is responsible for this. Soya beans, he explained, has risen sharply , while  that  of  maize  has  come down in the  last few  months, attributed  the  efforts of the  Minister  of  Agriculture and Rural Development , Dr Akinwumi  Adesina  to  improve  local  production  of maize.

    This, however, he  explained  has not helped  to bring  that the  cost of  feed since soya beans  is  still  in key factor. Proper  chicken feed includes corn, soyabean  meal besides minerals and vitamins.

    Feeds are going up due to  poor production of soyabeans nationwide.

    To watchers, the   cost  of   animal feeds have gone up by between 40 and 50 per cent since 2012, an unprecedented rise. This has locked hundreds of thousands of livestock   farmers out of the feeds market which are key in complementing the dwindling pasture occasioned by failing rains.

    A  report   said   feed producers  are  facing  a challenge  producing  cheap  products, blaming  it  on  acute shortage of raw materials, high import duty and prohibitive cost of energy.

    While   demand for the feeds has grown, feed manufacturers unable to satisfy the rising appetite and  that  the  mismatch between production and demand is worrying.

    According to him,  feed manufactures are faacing challenges, operating at half c1apacity and struggling to cover their costs.

    A  farmer, Mr Stephen  Oladipupo  said    the  abnormally high  price  of maize and soyabean have  pushed  the industry into  deep  crisis.

    This  is because  the  industry  required  thousands  of   feed mixtures and supplements, but  that  the  country is  unable to produce it  because  it  had to import some of the raw materials such  as   fishmeal, cereal bran, fishmeal, oil seed cakes and feed premixes to bolster production.

    Currently, the poultry industry is the largest consumer of livestock feeds, accounted for more  50 percent of the national feed production including chick and duck mash, growers mash, layers mash, broiler starter and broiler finisher.

    At present, the key challenges faced by the poultry industry are high feed cost.

    In the last two years, the industry has been facing severe crisis due to abnormal increase in the prices of feed ingredients (mainly maize and soyabean) and led to an increase in the cost of production.

  • Imo poultry farm begins sale of chickens

    The Imo Modern Poultry Avutu which had remained moribund for over 20 years has been revived by the administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha as part of its efforts to create employment opportunities, promote agriculture as well as boost internally-generated revenue of the state.

    Flagging off the sale of the first batch of about 10,000 chickens raised in the farm, Governor Okorocha, who was represented by the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu expressed his joy that the Avutu Poultry which had remained one of the legacies of the late Sam Mbakwe administration about 30 years ago has received new lease of life.

    Governor Okorocha said the Rescue Mission administration is not resting on its oars until all moribund industries are revamped and abandoned projects completed.

    He announced that the Imo Modern Poultry within its few months of reactivation has produced the first batch of over 10,000 chickens for sale to the public, even as he further said that the farm will make available more than 100,000 birds for sale by December this year.

    He revealed that the farm has the capacity to house over 2.5 million birds as well as provide investment in other areas such as fisheries, live stock and feed production, processing and packaging of frozen chickens.

    He, therefore, called on investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in the project.

    The Governor pledged a donation of 20,000 chicks into the poultry as part of his contributions to the development of the farm.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sir Frank Ibezim recounted how the present administration reactivated the Imo Modern Poultry. He praised Governor Okorocha for his vision.

    Sir Ibezim noted that Imo Modern Poultry is the largest poultry in West Africa situates on about 177 hectares of land with 45 poultry houses of 2.5 million birds capacity.

    He also said the farm has a feed mill of 3,000 metric tons silo as well as hatcheries, a layer capacity of 235,000 birds and about 100 ton cold room for preservation of processed chickens.

    Sir Ibezim pointed out that government is working in collaboration with Whawna Crux, a South African agricultural investment company, to rehabilitate the poultry farm and make it function at full capacity.

    The commissioner said the farm will engage both skilled and unskilled manpower, provide capacity building for youths on modern poultry keeping as well as empower and provide bye-off and processing services for poultry farmers in the state.

    Contributing, the Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor expressed joy that the project which began in July this year, has started yielding dividends. He praised the state government and her South African partners for making the project a reality.

  • Poultry group warns against dumping

    The   poultry industry has expressed fears that cheaper products being imported or dumped into the market can lead to its collapse.

    Speaking  with The  Nation, the  Vice-President(Agriculture) Association of  Small  Business Owners Of  Nigeria(ASBON), Mr  Stephen Oladipupo, said smugglers were  dumping poultry products into the market can be sold at a much lower price than local products.

    As a result, he    said   the poultry industry was in need of support from the government to avoid a collapse of the industry, as the threat of cheaper products being opportunistically imported or dumped in the market adds more pressure to keep costs down.

    Oladipupo  said local producers are experiencing now with the influx of cheap smuggle   chicken that are undercutting them on price and capable of   putting them   out of business.

    Calling on the government  to address smuggling,he  indicated it had already caused a slowdown in the regular growth of the poultry sector.”

    According to him, poultry producers are losing money as  smuggled  poultry imports flood the market.

    He said  poultry farmers are struggling with high production costs, including increase in chicken feed and erratic electricity and fuel costs,. The numbers are leading to a drop in profits that is pushing some farmers out of business.

    For  this  reason,he   called  on the  government to come up with a poultry policy that will address subsidies, standardisation mechanisms, treatment and market structures to curb losses and exploitation.

    He explained  that It was  not sustainable for the poultry sector to keep absorb these costs on a long-term, and many small and medium operations might not be able to continue their business.

    He called upon the government to impose stricter regulations to protect the local producers.

    Stressing  the  need  to  revamp poultry industry, he  said  there is  vital  to  enable   farmers   produce day-old chicks, high quality animal feeds and other poultry products.

  • ‘You can’t impeach anybody for operating poultry’

    ‘You can’t impeach anybody for operating poultry’

    The former chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Pat Orjiakor, has said it was laughable for anybody to be impeached because he operated a poultry.

    He was referring to the impeachment notice by the Enugu State House of Assembly against Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi.

    Orjiakor urged the Assembly to take it easy.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Awka, he said the reasons adduced for the impeachment were not only frivolous, but also laughable and ludicrous.

    Orjiakor said impeachment, as a serious constitutional issue, must be anchored on good reasoning and critical thinking.

    He said after 15 years of democracy, politicians should grow beyond selfish interests.

    Orjiakor enjoined the lawmakers to drop the impeachment move. He said the deputy governor should be hailed for embarking on poultry farming, despite his status, rather than being ridiculed.