Poultry farmers move to tackle food insecurity
By Mercy Omoike
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, has championed the move for the attainment of food security in the country at its annual conference.
The association at its 2024 annual Conference and Exhibition with the theme: ‘Poultry Association of Nigeria Lagos (PANLAG) on the Pathway to Food Security and Sustainability’, called for the attainment of food security via the poultry sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference held on Wednesday in Lagos was organised to close the economic hardship gap in the sector by boosting productivity capacity of local poultry farmers.
In his welcome address, the PAN Lagos State Chairman, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, reiterated the resolve of the association to address the challenges facing the sector.
“Nigeria is a significant gateway to West Africa’s food market, most especially protein production, in which the poultry sector is one of the major sources.
“However, the sector is experiencing retrogressive trends in production with farms shutting down on a daily basis.
“This is a wake up call for us all to creatively and relentlessly work together towards a common goal of ensuring adequate food security and its sustainability in Lagos State and our dear country Nigeria.
“We at PANLAG, resolve that the factors of erratic climate change, environmental degradation and insecurity impending on food security and its sustainability should be critically addressed,” he said.
He stressed the need for lasting solutions to ensure adequate food production and sustainability in Nigeria.
“It is our expectation that the conference provides a platform for policy makers and stakeholders to share knowledge, showcase innovations and collaborate on strategies that will promote food security,” Iyiola said.
On his part, the guest speaker and Vice Chancellor Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Prof. Olushola Kehinde, represented by Prof. Olajide Sogunle, stressed the need for diversification to diversify to rearing other species.
Kehinde said that poultry farmers should diversify aside growers and layers for increased productivity and profitability.
“The poultry industry dates back to 8,000 years, however, many local farmers are only into raising broilers and layers, let us diversify into other poultry species.
“We have ducks, guinea fowls and turkeys and so many other poultry species that most countries rear to boost profit.
“But in Nigeria, our focus has always been layers and growers.
“Let us diversify and then I believe, with the training we are having today, we will be better for it.
“I must say that with this training and workshop organised by PAN Lagos, I believe with our speeches and panel sessions and deliberations will be able to forge ahead.
“We will be able to find a way out of the problems in the sector such that every poultry farmer will go back smiling as we forge a way out of the economic problem that we face now,” Kehinde said.
The keynote speaker, Dr James Wageti, veterinarian and poultry expert, tasked the farmers on efficiency and stockmanship to address the losses in the sector.
“I think the only way a poultry farmer can boost production in this challenging time is by farm implementing efficiency.
“From data and analysis obtained all over Nigeria, we can tell you that what poultry farmers are losing on their farm is more than what they are making.
“So, if they are able to apply efficiency on their farms, they will be able to stay afloat in the business.
“Stockmanship is the key thing in poultry farming, most farmers look at the birds just like that without looking at what the birds are doing.
“The birds talk to us, they speak all languages, but most farmers because of that lack of stockmanship they do not understand and that is why they are losing.
“Stockmanship is the way to manage your poultry business by using your senses and observational skills,” Wageti said. (NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
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