‘Nigeria lost 60% of poultry farmers in one year’

The General Manager of Obasanjo Farms, Dr Ariyo Eyitayo Olusegun, has said over 60 per cent of poultry farmers in Nigeria have quit the business because of the ongoing hardship in the country.

Olusegun disclosed this in Ilọrin while speaking with our correspondent.

He said, “There are apprehensions everywhere about the future of the livestock industry in general and that of the poultry business particularly.

“But as a top player in the business, I can tell you that in the last twelve months, Nigeria has lost more than 60 per cent of poultry farmers in the industry.

“Majority of them are lower capacity holders. The bigger capacity holders like us can sustain themselves somehow because of access to funds,” he noted.

According to him, poultry in particular is still the biggest source of animal protein in Nigeria, adding that it had not been easy in a business that is not regulated.

“The problem is poultry is a very volatile business just like any other livestock in Nigeria. As we speak, the country in the last two years has not found it easy because of increase in the price of input and you cannot improve price of your products.

It’s a very tight business but we are not complaining because we have had it good and trusting God that if the economy gets back on its feet, the poultry industry will pick up,” he added.

He advised Nigeria farmers to be steadfast and hold on. “They should not leave the business because of the present challenges otherwise their sweat would be inherited by those who didn’t work for it. The livestock industry is undulating,” he submitted.

On egg glut, he said the school feeding programme of the past administration brought a lot of succour to farmers.

He added that “The government should replicate that and mop up the loss to keep the farmers in business to continue to feed the country. The government must step in, it can’t be left for the famers alone.

“Livestock operation is not an oil business because the profit margin is very narrow and a little mistake can keep you out of business.”