Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mr Omidokun Oyekunle, has called for the intervention of federal, state and local governments in the poultry business.
Oyekunle, who made the call during the celebration of 2024 World Egg Day in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Friday, said such an intervention would help to reduce the high cost of poultry feeds.
Oyekunle, represented by PAN Ibadan Zone II Chairman, Mr Wole Olulade, spoke also about the association’s many challenges during a visit to the Ido Local Government Chairman, Mr Sheriff Adeojo.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the visit was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Egg Day.
Oyekunle said the high cost of feeds was greatly affecting the poultry business in Nigeria, adding that this was responsible for the high cost of eggs and other poultry products.
“Governments need to assist us primarily on inputs, particularly maize and soya beans, which we have control over in Nigeria.
“A lot of other micro-nutrients which are also expensive are imported, and with time we will get there and have control over them.
“But the ones we have control over are maize and soya beans,” he said.
The Oyo State PAN chairman stated that maize was about 50 per cent higher in Nigeria than any other country in the world.
“Nigeria needs to improve on the production of those two commodities, if we are to turn around things,” he said.
Oyekunle said further that governments need to assist with incentives or regulate the cost of the commodities for the association.
“This will help Nigeria to be within the bracket of what is happening globally,” he said.
On the World Egg Day celebration, the Oyo State PAN chairman urged Nigerians to consume at least one egg daily, saying eggs contained all nutrients except vitamin C.
“It boosts immunity and helps the body to function well,” he added.
In his reaction, Adeojo who was represented by a council official, Mr Bashir Adeshiyan, pledged the Ido local council’s commitment to prioritising agriculture and boosting production.
Adeojo said the council would continue to do its best to ensure inputs got to people who needed them and not politicians, to reduce the association’s production cost.
NAN reports that the association members also visited Community High School and Nawarudeen Primary School, both in Ido, and the Primary Health Centre at Ologuneru to distribute eggs.
They also educated those they visited on the benefits of egg consumption.
The Principal of Ido Community High School, Mr Adeniyi Samuel, thanked the association for the gesture.
NAN
