Poultry farmers in Kano have urged the government to provide subsidised feed and medication to cushion the rising cost of production, which remains a major challenge in the business.
They made the call in separate interviews with reporters on Tuesday in Kano.
Mr Aminu Nabegu said poultry feed prices had increased significantly, raising production costs and putting pressure on farmers.
He said a bag of Ultima Plus, previously sold for N20,000, now cost N23,000, while the price of Ultima had increased from N18,000 to N21,000.
He added that Chikun feed had risen from N16,500 to N18,000, while Hybrid feed had increased from N12,000 to N14,200.
According to him, the price of day-old chicks had also risen from between N500 and N700 to about N2,000.
Nabegu said the high cost of chicks and feed had made poultry farming expensive.
He, however, said farmers could still make some profit by selling mature birds at higher prices.
He explained that the high cost of starting the business discouraged new entrants, leaving existing farmers to meet market demand.
Despite the challenges, he said poultry farming remained his main source of livelihood, adding that he appreciated whatever profit he made, no matter how small.
Nabegu identified the approaching harmattan season as another challenge, explaining that farmers needed electric bulbs or lanterns to provide warmth and lighting for their birds.
He said adequate lighting enabled the birds to see their surroundings, feed and drink water at night, while a warm environment helped them remain healthy and grow properly.
He urged the government to prioritise experienced poultry farmers when providing support, saying they were better positioned to utilise the assistance effectively.
According to him, raising 100 day-old chicks to table size could require between 13 and 14 bags of feed, depending on feeding and management practices.
Mrs Ruth Johnson, another poultry farmer, said she engaged in poultry farming because she enjoyed keeping birds, describing it as a hobby.
She said production costs had increased considerably compared with the previous year, particularly the costs of purchasing day-old chicks, feed and medication.
Despite the rising expenses, Johnson said she remained grateful for every profit she made, whether large or small.
Mr Amos Patrick said the high cost of production had not stopped him from continuing the business, although he had to manage his resources carefully.
He said he fed his birds according to his financial capacity and sold them to customers based on their individual preferences.
Patrick explained that some customers preferred five-week-old birds, while others requested birds aged six, seven or eight weeks.
He said he raised and sold birds according to customers’ demands, a practice that enabled him to cater to different market preferences.
The farmers called for measures to reduce the cost of essential poultry inputs, saying improved access to affordable feed and medication would help sustain their businesses.
