JOS – The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Plateau State chapter, on Sunday, appealed to the Plateau government and other stakeholders to help to mop up excess eggs caused by an egg glut in the state.
The Vice Chairman of association, Mr Hyacienth Na’anmiap, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.
Na’anmiap said that the glut was affecting their business in the state.
There was serious glut in 2012, which led the state government to intervene by releasing N30 million for a mop up.
The eggs, which the Plateau government bought through its ministries of agriculture, women affairs and education, were distributed to primary school pupils and pregnant women.
Na’anmiap noted that the glut was almost becoming a yearly occurrence in the state because of the weather condition which made the birds to thrive and produce more eggs.
“As a result, there are so many large and small scale poultry farms all over the state.
“In every 10 houses in Jos for instance, seven of the houses have poultry farms.’’
The vice chairman added that a crate of eggs, which was being sold for between N680 and N700 in February this year, crashed to about N400 because of excess production.
He lamented that in spite of the radical drop in the price, there were still no buyers and being perishable, most eggs do go bad before they were bought.
“In spite of the drop in price, the cost of feeding the birds is still very high because a bag of poultry feed, depending on the brand, still goes for between N1,950 to N2,250.
“The situation is making some farmers to sell off the birds to ease the challenge of feeding them at no particular gain.
“We are calling on the state government to step in as it did in 2012 to save the industry, which is a mainstay of the Plateau economy, from collapse.
“We are also calling on other stakeholders; feed millers, hatcheries, NGOs and other organisations to also come in and assist in salvaging the situation,’’ he appealed.
While commending government for previous interventions, the vice chairman, however, suggested the introduction of a revolving fund through the Poultry Cooperative Society to address the situation.
He said “we were happy that the state government released N30 million to save the situation in 2012, but if it was made a revolving fund, it would have taken care of this year’s glut.’’
He added that trustees for the fund could be selected by government in collaboration with the association from experienced and responsible persons in the industry as public servants or private individuals. (NAN)
