Nigeria's Poultry Farmers Push for Strategic Reforms in Self-Sufficient Chick Production

News in brief:

-Stakeholders propose structural financing reforms, stronger R&D, and value-chain integration to stabilise DOC supply and reduce costs.

-Short-term measures such as subsidies, import control, and hatchery revitalisation are seen as critical to protect farmers and boost food security.

Nigeria’s poultry industry leaders have called for a combination of long-term structural reforms and short-term policy support to end the recurring scarcity of day-old chicks (DOCs) and secure the country’s self-sufficiency in chick production.

Stakeholders say persistent DOC shortages, rising production costs, and weak value-chain coordination are threatening farmers’ livelihoods and national food security, warning that urgent steps are needed to rebuild confidence in the sector.

Financing, Innovation, and Hatchery Infrastructure Top Priorities

National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Sunday Ezeobiora, stated that the high interest rates, reportedly over 28% are crippling investments and limiting farmers’ capacity to expand.

He urged the government to lower financing costs and create targeted support for modern hatcheries, including technology upgrades and improvements to breeder stock. He also called for stronger extension services to curb losses and raise productivity.

To stabilise supply in the short term, Ezeobiora recommended subsidies on breeder feed, a hatchery development fund, and measures to prevent market exploitation without distorting pricing dynamics.

Local Breeder Stock Development, Cluster Model Advocated

The Chairman of the association's Ogun State chapter, Yinka Lawal, emphasised the need for domestically adapted breeder genetics and revival of abandoned hatcheries to boost national capacity.

He proposed poultry production clusters, which would link feed mills, veterinary services, hatcheries and processing facilities, to reduce logistics costs and improve competitiveness.

His five-pillar roadmap includes:

• Subsidies for vaccines, breeder stock and hatchery inputs
• Structured funding through a dedicated Hatchery Support Fund
• Controlled importation to prevent market flooding
• Benchmark pricing to discourage exploitation
• Capacity-building for farmers and service providers

Affordability and Food Security Interventions

President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, stated that achieving chick self-sufficiency is impossible without affordable feed and vaccines. These two are the industry's biggest cost drivers.

He recommended integrating eggs into national school feeding programmes to stimulate local demand and protect investments.

Ibrahim also warned that unchecked imports and smuggling could destabilise the industry and undermine local producers.

Accessible Credit, Input Waivers Needed

Industry figure Godwin Egbebe argued that single-digit loans and grants are crucial for small and medium-scale producers to scale production and survive market shocks.

He also urged temporary waivers on agricultural input imports when local alternatives are insufficient.

Foluso Adams, Deputy Chairman of PAN Lagos State, echoed the call for hatchery expansion, local feed mill development, and buffer stock systems to regulate supply and prevent artificial scarcity.

Market Cycles Should Not Be Ignored

Providing historical context, Dr Taiwo Adeoye, Managing Director of Rostal Resources Limited, noted that Nigeria previously achieved surplus chick production, and warned against short-sighted responses to temporary challenges.

He stressed that the DOC shortage is partly a ripple effect of a recent egg glut that forced many producers to scale back operations.

Adeoye cautioned that imported DOCs would enter the market at significantly higher prices, undermining current investments in local grandparent and parent stock operations.

Dayo Gawati, Managing Director of Fdot Farms, explained that hatcheries reduce production to avoid losses during periods of low demand. When demand rises suddenly, capacity becomes overstretched, and prices spike as companies attempt to recover earlier losses.

He argued that predictable administration and stronger market oversight are required to prevent yearly disruptions.