Agriculture

Poultry Farmers Advocate for Ban on Exportation of Soya Beans, Maize

By Web News 664

Poultry farmers have appealed to the Federal Government to ban the exportation of soya beans and maize to allow Nigerian farmers to produce for local use.

The poultry farmers while speaking in Abeokuta noted that the exchange rate and many other challenges had forced a lot of farmers out of business with many industries in the sector closing shop. 

The prices of poultry and livestock feed concentrates had continued to rise in the Nigerian market in recent times, due to an astronomical increase in the prices of maize and soybeans as major raw materials and this has led to a rise in the cost of livestock, including chicken, turkey and eggs.

The poultry farmers during their annual get together in Abeokuta expressed the fears that Nigerians might have to pay more for the poultry products.

The chairman of the association, Dr. Olalekan Odunsi while advising Nigerians to brace up for the high cost of chicken as a result of the current situation pointed out that the poultry farmers were facing harsh socio-economic situations.

Dr Odunsi emphasized that apart from the high cost of animal feeds and exchange rate that had continued to take a toll on the industry the problem of insecurity remained a major threat to the survival of poultry farming.

Addressing the gathering, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Adeola Odedina expressed the states’ commitment towards improving Livestock production through Public Private Partnership approach.

Dr Obadina said the present administration in the state was working with poultry farmers to encourage mass production of livestock and eggs for export value-chain.

Also, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Olabode Adetoyi urged the Southwest States to create the enabling environment for farmers to operate. 

The Ekiti state commissioner for Agriculture and Food security announced that the Ekiti state Government was granting tax holidays and security to all agribusiness investors operating in the State. 

The Poultry farmer’s annual gathering, according to the organizers is aimed at enabling them to compare notes and share ideas on current technologies and poultry farming techniques as well as business ideas.

Wale Oluokun

Agriculture

Bird Flu: Fed Ministry of Agric Calls for Sensitization of Poultry Farmers

By Web News 1311

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called on directors of veterinary services in all the states of the federation to begin sensitization of poultry farmers on prevention and control of avian influenza also known as bird flu.

In a letter signed by a director in the ministry, Dr. Olaniran Alabi, the ministry said this became imperative due to the outbreak of bird flu recorded in some commercial farms in Kano and Plateau state.

The ministry noted that it got a report of confirmed cases of bird flu from the National Veterinary Research Institute on the twenty ninth of last month.

The letter also states that there should be serious disinfection of live birds markets in all states while there should be full activation of avian influenza emergency preparedness plan in all states.

The letter adds that the country had not reported any confirmed case of bird flu in the past two years and would not allow another outbreak of the flu. 

PR/Fawole/Dr Agboola 

Agriculture

Ogun Govt. Empowers 54 Youth Farmers

By Web News 705

Fifty-Four youths have been trained as poultry farmers to champion the business of Broiler Production in Ogun State. 

In a message to the closing ceremony of the successful completion of the training programme, Governor Dapo Abiodun promised that the scheme would be replicated across the state to accommodate more youths.

Governor Abiodun encouraged young entrepreneurs in the Agriculture sector to take advantage of various interventions, including the Presidential Fertilizer Palliative, the Planting Materials Palliatives for smallholder farmers as well as the free extension and advisory services to farms and food production outfits.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele at the Odeda Training Farm Institute, Eweje, said the youths as Agriculture entrepreneurs would be supported to boost their productivity. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina had explained that government’s advocacy efforts in Agriculture were yielding results and making Agricpreneur attractive to youths in the state. 

A beneficiary of the Broiler project, Mr Ayinde Musa who applauded the poultry intervention efforts, said the scheme had exposed participants to the economic advantages of Agro-business.

Oluremi Olugbenro