Arzikin Noma Africa has urged governments at all levels and the private sector to invest in day-old chick production to boost poultry supply and reduce prices.
Mr Adeoluwa Adeshola, Group Managing Director of the organisation, made the call in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Abuja.
Arzikin Noma Africa is an agricultural and value-chain development company focused on transforming food systems, improving farm productivity and empowering smallholder farmers across Africa.
Adeshola said the rising cost of day-old chicks was hampering growth in the poultry sector, attributing the shortage to limited mother stock production capacity.
“There is a lot of monopoly when it comes to mother stock. Only a few companies have the capacity to produce it, so demand exceeds supply.
“I call on the government and the private sector to invest actively in day-old chick production to break the monopoly,” he said.
Day-old chicks currently sell for between N1,800 and N2,100, up from N1,300 to N1,500 two to three months ago.
Some farmers alleged that hatcheries were raising prices to frustrate smallholder farmers, while others attributed the increase to supply-and-demand dynamics and seasonal factors.
Mrs Rose Ibe said the price hike had become a recurring challenge, especially ahead of the festive season.
“There is always an exorbitant hike as we approach December, the peak period for chicken sales,” she said.
Mr Andrew Tersor said the high cost had forced him to halve his usual stock of 150 to 200 birds.
He urged the federal and state governments to collaborate in establishing hatcheries across the six geopolitical zones to improve access to day-old chicks and reduce prices.
“We believe that if day-old chicks are produced close to our zone, we can easily access them, and prices will reduce drastically,” he said.
