Poultry farmers in Zamfara State have lamented that they are seriously facing lack of patronage.
A farmer, Mallam Ibrahim Usman, who spoke to newsmen on Thursday, blamed the development on the persisting economic hardship.
He added that the poultry industry contributes some percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, calling on the federal government to address the economic situation.
Usman further stated that one of the challenges facing poultry farmers was the high cost of feed, particularly maize and soybeans, which were essential ingredients in the poultry business.
“We are in the rainy season where maize is supposed to be cheaper but remains costly, with bags of new maize currently sold at a high cost,” he stated.
According to him, providing soft loans to poultry farmers in the country at a low interest rate, along with additional support for raw materials, particularly maize and soybeans, can revive the industry.
“Majority of poultry farmers are no longer using the new maize because of its moisture content. It affects production and the eggs of the chickens.
“They prefer grinding it, spreading it and waiting for about five days and even adding some preservatives, but this is rainy season; so it may not dry quickly.
“A 25kg of broiler feed is now sold for N26,700 which cannot feed more than 200 fowls.
“This is the major problem we face, especially when we look at the production cost and the amount we sell eggs.
“There is no profit margin to keep the business running and that is why poultry farmers are closing down and cost of eggs increasing,” he added.
Another poultry farmer, Mustapha Liman said that the business was booming when the State government was feeding students.
He explained that some of the poultry farmers used to supply the products to the State’s School Feeding Agency and at the end of the month, they would be paid.
“We were supplying chickens and eggs. But now, the State government has suspended feeding the students, which is another setback to our business,” he lamented.
Yusuf Abdulrahaman, another poultry farmer, said that he was surviving through supplies to roasted chicken dealers.
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