The Poultry Association, Ikorodu chapter of Lagos State has urged the Federal Government to begin subsidising the cost of poultry feeds to make the products more affordable for Nigerians.
The association’s Chairman, Mr Olaoye Ayodeji made the call on Sunday in an interview in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Ayodeji said subsiding poultry feeds should be under Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a better life for Nigerians.
He, however, said that insecurity, the high cost of feeds and interest rates from banks in the country remained a big challenge that had discouraged many farmers.
He said the challenges had led to many people disengaging from agriculture and poultry farming.
The association’s chairman said the agricultural revolution of the Federal Government would become more meaningful if Nigerians began to feel the impact through reduced prices of food stock and poultry.
“Insecurity is a major cause of high cost of feeds because farmers no longer cultivate the farms as they always run for safety.
“Maize that is the major component of bird feeds, mostly planted in the north, is no longer available in the market due to insecurity,” he said.
He enjoined members to be abreast of modern farming techniques and new ways of tackling biosecurity which he said, had also been a major challenge faced by poultry farm owners in the country.
He said they planned to partner with the government at all levels in revamping the poultry business in the country.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Ikorodu Local Council, Mr Wasiu Adesina, has promised to partner with the association to ensure smooth poultry business and production of more food in the area.
Adesina said the council would also invest in the agricultural sector to generate more employment for the teeming youths in the community.
He said his administration promised to sponsor no fewer than 50 youths on foreign training in agricultural programmes in different countries as part of its commitment to prioritise the sector.
He said the council had sensitised residents and landowners on engaging in home-grown agriculture practices to boost food security as well as encouraging indigenous farmers to preserve their land for agricultural purposes.
“It is very important to partner the poultry farmers to ease means of doing business and productivity.
“Agriculture is a very important sector in any country, without agriculture no country of the world can survive.
“On our part, my administration will sponsor some youths on foreign training in agric who in turn, will train others for more participation and self-reliance.
“These are some, out of the many supports the council is giving to encourage farmers,” Adesina said.
NAN
