Poultry Feed producers call on FG for urgent release of grains, says egg, chicken’ prices may skyrocket
Ayodele Olalere
Poultry Feed producers under the aegis of Feed Industry Practioners Association of Nigeria, FIPAN, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently order the release of 500,000 metric tonnes of grain to stakeholders in the livestock industry to cushion the effect of increase in protein rich poultry foods..
The President of the association, Raymond Isiadinso, while addressing journalists at a briefing, on behalf of the association in company of other executive members, said the high cost of eggs, chicken, fish and other poultry products, is as a result of scarcity of maize and soya, essential ingredients in the production of poultry feed.
Isiadinso urged President Tinubu to open a short window for the importation of grains into the country so as to address the issue of scarcity and allow poultry farmers raise their products especially as December approaches when the demand for poultry food will be high.
” The industry we’ve taken time to build is about to collapse. The cost of eggs and meat is going higher due to current cost grain which constitutes 80% of the animal feed, and soya which is 25% of the feed. The agriculture GDP is going down because of shortage of raw materials. The country needs 18.5 metric tonnes of grains to meet industry requirement. But there’s shortage of it as we produced 1.7 metric tonnes of soya.,” he said.
He added: “Egg is eating daily by Nigerians but it’s going beyond the reach of the people. We therefore urge the government to urgently release 500,000 metric tonnes from the grain reserve as promised by President Tinubu, out of which 100,000 should be released to poultry feed producers.”
The association demanded that government should also invite it for dialogue.
” We need 200,000 metric tonnes of soya for us to be in production. Also a short window should be opened to stakeholders to import grains to augment our daily shortage, as well as create a long lasting mechanisms of two to four years to address the challenges we’re facing. We also called on the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, to address this issue urgently by ensuring exportation of soya and maize are reduced. We’re confident the President will listen and heed our call,” Isiadinso said.
