The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has given 1.2million metric tons as the estimated volume of poultry products smuggled into Nigeria annually.
PAN President, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, gave the figure in Lagos Thursday.
Nigeria, according to him, is losing about N700 billion annually in revenue to smuggling of poultry products.
According to him, the smuggled products, which are majorly frozen chicken and turkey, have great health impact on the well-being of Nigerians.
He regretted that the government is yet to compensate farmers who suffer losses as a result of cooperating with the government to destroy the affected birds.
He informed that poultry farmers lost millions from the destruction of birds confirmed to have been infested with bird flu.
As a result of this, he said the affected famers have not been able to restock. Eggs prices, he noted, will continue to go up with increasing prices of the key feed components.
According to him, rising feed costs have affected the costs of egg production from increased demand for corn and soyabean supplies.
Export of corn and soya beans following the increased world demand for feed grains have resulted in unprecedented feed price increases beginning from last year.
Oduntan the prices of maize per tonne has risen to N120, 000 while that of soyabeans has gone up to N145, 000.
The prices were N60, 000 and N80,000 respectively two years ago.
As a result of these increased feed ingredient prices, production cost per dozen for egg producers,he explained have increased.
The increased costs in feed ingredients, he added, have resulted in cumulative costs for egg producers during the past two years. Given the projected demand for corn is likely to increase in future years and depreciation of the naira, the PAN boss said these factors will continue to pressure poultry producers’ costs and profitability numbers making feeding efficiencies even more important.
Oduntan noted that the association will not relent in its efforts and focus on policy, advocacy and institutional linkages that will put poultry production on the path of excellence.
He however, announced its National Poultry Show scheduled between November 29 and 30 at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
