Over 50% Of Nigeria's Poultry Farms Shut Down In 2023

News in brief:- The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) claims that more than 50% of poultry farms closed in 2023, citing shortages in egg production due to rising input prices.- It has urged the government to intervene by providing feed input subsidies, as a solution to alleviate the crisis in the industry. The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has raised alarm over the closure of more than 50% of poultry farms across the country in 2023, attributing the decline to severe challenges within the sector. Mojeed Iyiola, PAN chairman in Lagos, made the disclosure during an interview with newsmen recently, highlighting the dire impact on production and consumer prices. He highlighted severe shortages in egg production, stating that the industry is currently unable to meet the growing demand for eggs due to the shortage of poultry farms. He also revealed that the closure of over half of the country's farms has significantly diminished production capacity. The shortage leads to increasing cost of eggs, which poultry association boss lamented, could created more burden on consumers. Already, Nigerians are battling food inflation on much bigger scale with the price of other food items skyrockeyting in 2023 and expected to keep rising in 2024. Subsequently, PAN has urged the government to intervene through comprehensive measures, particularly in the form of feed input subsidies. Iyiola opined that reducing the cost of raw materials for bird feed would be the best solution for the sector at the moment. Although the PAN chairman acknowledged the Lagos state government's efforts in providing feed inputs to poultry farmers doing business within its borders, he said that the impact has been limited. He expressed hope for a broader and more effective government response soon.