Poultry farmers solicit FG’s support

Dr. Oduntan stated this at the2014 Poultry Summit held at LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. He listed the challenges to includepoultry diseases, pilfering,multiple-taxation, egg and chicken glut, high prices of raw materials, non-availability of raw materials, expired and fake inputs, smuggling and poor infrastructure. Other challenges are, health management, quackery, farm husbandry […]

Dr. Oduntan stated this at the2014 Poultry Summit held at LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. He listed the challenges to includepoultry diseases, pilfering,multiple-taxation, egg and chicken glut, high prices of raw materials, non-availability of raw materials, expired and fake inputs, smuggling and poor infrastructure.
Other challenges are, health management, quackery, farm husbandry and management, absence of diagnostic facilities, global warming and heavy storms.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, ‘Consolidating the Growth Plan for Poultry Industry: 2013 – 2023’, the PANpresident explained that finance is the most critical element in poultry farming, lamenting that commercial banks are always reluctant to lend to poultry production due to lack of understanding of agriculture.
According to him, the interest rate of between 20-28 percent by commercial banks is not sustainable, adding, “a level playing field of between 2-8 percent interest commensurate with poultry farmers around the world is what we seek.”
Speaking on raw material sourcing, Dr. Oduntan explained that raw material availability and their soaring prices have become a recurring problem to poultry production in the last few years.
He, however, added that the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina,approved the release of 5,000 tons of maize to PAN last year when annual maize consumption by the industry is approximately1. 5 million tons.
Meanwhile, the PAN president said the body has decided to chart a new course by coming up with a poultry development plan covering 10 years, 2013-2023, saying, “poultry is a multi-billion naira business within the agric sector. We need to take our destiny in our hands because it is obvious we can be exporting eggs to the whole of West African sub-region.
“We have come up with the strategic framework for the egg and chicken promotion board. The main focus shall be market development for chicken and eggs. Other core responsibilities of this body shall include research, trade promotion and education.
“The association is variously involved in all measures that will place it in a position to be nationally and internationally competitive in quality assurance. The association is also poised to build the capacity of poultry farmers. PAN is in discussion with the bankers committee to organise forum with bankers, insurers, private equity fund managers and poultry farmers forum to enable poultry farmers interact and also explore areas of conventional trade,” he said.
He called on the federal government to give poultry farmers a special status as regards payment for electricity, saying, “we need to be treated specially as it is done in developed countries. Government has to assist us on the issue of multiple taxation because it has always been one issue to another. We demand for allocation of maize by the Strategic Grains Reserve at discounted prices for our farmers to feed their chickens well,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina who was represented by Prof. Joseph Sonaya said the ministry has seen progress in poultry commercial production.
The minister explained that the challenges the ministry saw is the need for standard and what made good system of production in poultry, adding, “what we are advocating is voluntary implementation of standard.”
He said the ministry will soon embark on categorisation and certification of poultry industry in the country.