by Ayo Ibiyemi Ayo Ibiyemi 4 Comments

POULTRY BUSINESS

Starting a poultry business can be a lucrative venture, given the high demand for poultry products such as meat and eggs. However, it requires careful planning, a solid understanding of the industry, and a commitment to maintaining the health and well-being of the poultry. Here are some key steps to consider when starting a poultry business:

  1. Market Research and Business Plan: Conduct thorough market research to understand the demand for poultry products in your target area. Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your business goals, target market, competition, and financial projections.
  2. Legal Requirements and Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the legal requirements and regulations governing poultry farming in your location. Obtain the necessary licenses, permits, and certifications to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
  3. Infrastructure and Equipment: Set up appropriate infrastructure, including poultry housing, feeding and watering systems, ventilation, and lighting. Invest in quality equipment and facilities that promote the well-being and productivity of the poultry.
  4. Poultry Breed Selection: Choose the appropriate poultry breeds based on your business goals and market demand. Consider factors such as egg production, meat quality, disease resistance, and adaptability to local environmental conditions.
  5. Feeding and Nutrition: Develop a well-balanced feeding program that meets the nutritional requirements of the poultry. Ensure access to clean water and a balanced diet that supports growth, productivity, and overall health.
  6. Disease Prevention and Biosecurity Measures: Implement strict biosecurity measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases. Develop a vaccination program in consultation with a poultry health professional to safeguard the health of your poultry flock.
  7. Marketing and Distribution: Create a marketing strategy to promote your poultry products to potential customers. Establish partnerships with local retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants, and consider online platforms and social media to expand your reach.
  8. Financial Management: Monitor your expenses, revenues, and cash flow to ensure the financial sustainability of your poultry business. Keep accurate records of all transactions and seek professional advice when necessary to manage your finances effectively.
  9. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Stay informed about the latest trends and advancements in poultry farming. Attend workshops, seminars, and industry events to learn from experts and keep up with best practices in poultry management.
  10. Ethical and Sustainable Practices: Adopt ethical and sustainable practices in your poultry business, ensuring the welfare of the poultry and minimizing the environmental impact of your operations. Emphasize humane treatment, responsible waste management, and environmentally friendly practices.

Starting and running a successful poultry business requires dedication, knowledge, and a proactive approach to addressing challenges and seizing opportunities in the industry. Regular monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation of your business strategies will contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of your poultry enterprise.

by Ayo Ibiyemi Ayo Ibiyemi No Comments

POULTRY DISEASES

Poultry diseases refer to various illnesses that affect domesticated birds kept for their meat, eggs, or feathers. Poultry species include chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and ostrich. These diseases can have significant impacts on poultry production and can cause economic losses for farmers.

There are several common poultry diseases that farmers need to be aware of.

Here are a few examples:

Marek’s Disease (MD): Marek’s Disease is a viral disease that primarily affects chickens and causes tumors. It can lead to paralysis, weight loss, and death.

Newcastle Disease: Also known as Ranikhet disease, Newcastle Disease is a viral infection that affects poultry, especially chickens. It can cause respiratory distress, nervous system disorders, and high mortality rates. The disease is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among birds.

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as bird flu, is another significant concern in poultry health. AI viruses can be classified into two types: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). LPAI strains generally cause mild or no illness in birds. On the other hand, HPAI strains can result in severe disease with high mortality rates in poultry. These viruses can sometimes infect humans, leading to flu-like symptoms or severe respiratory disease.

It is essential for poultry farmers to be proactive in preventing and managing diseases. This involves implementing biosecurity measures, such as maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, controlling the movement of people and animals, and practicing good hygiene protocols. Vaccinations can also play a crucial role in preventing certain poultry diseases, and regular veterinary care is essential for early detection and treatment.

by Panog Panog 2 Comments

Poultry and Egg Production Today!

Poultry farming and egg production is a lucrative business that can be both rewarding and challenging. It involves the raising of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other birds for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and feathers. Poultry farming and egg production requires careful management and planning to ensure the health and safety of the birds, as well as the quality of the eggs and meat produced.

The first step in poultry farming and egg production is to select the right breed of birds for the desired purpose. Different breeds of birds have different characteristics, such as egg production, meat production, and feather production. It is important to select the right breed for the desired purpose, as this will determine the success of the poultry farm.

Once the breed of birds has been selected, the next step is to create a suitable environment for the birds. This includes providing adequate housing, food, water, and ventilation. The housing should be designed to provide the birds with enough space to move around and to protect them from predators. The food should be of high quality and provide the birds with the necessary nutrients for growth and egg production. Water should be provided in a clean and safe manner, and the ventilation should be adequate to prevent the spread of disease.

The next step is to ensure the health and safety of the birds. This includes providing regular veterinary care, as well as monitoring the birds for signs of disease or injury. It is also important to provide the birds with a clean and safe environment, free from predators and other hazards.

Finally, it is important to manage the egg production and marketing of the eggs. This includes setting up a system for collecting, grading, and packaging the eggs, as well as marketing the eggs to customers. It is also important to keep accurate records of the egg production and sales, as this will help to ensure the success of the poultry farm.

Poultry farming and egg production can be a rewarding and profitable business, but it requires careful management and planning to ensure the health and safety of the birds, as well as the quality of the eggs and meat produced. With the right management and planning, a poultry farm can be a successful and profitable business.

by Panog Panog No Comments

Poultry farmers quit due to high cost of feeds

According to an article in Nigerian newspaper The Guardian, the high cost of feed is forcing Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) members out of the industry.

According to the article, waning profits have forced many farmers out of the sector. Secretary of the Plateau chapter of PAN Nanji Gambo, who was cited as the source of information, has apparently noticed a decline in membership. She pointed to high feed costs as the cause.

“These farmers could not bear the high cost of feed and so they crashed out of their businesses,” Gambo told The Guardian, adding that the association is urging farmers to wait for government assistance.

by Panog Panog No Comments

Shortage of raw materials crippling poultry sector — NIAS

Acute shortage of maize and soybean has been identified as the main factor crippling the poultry sector in Nigeria.

The Registrar/CEO, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Professor Eustace Iyayi, who disclosed this while addressing stakeholders during a collaborative meeting held with Premier Agribusiness Academy (PAA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, said, the unavailability of quality and affordable livestock feed to farmers can be attributed to the shortfall in local production of maize and soybean in the country.

According to him, it became imperative for NIAS to pay attention to livestock feed production in order to avoid livestock starvation, unprofitability, and indebtedness of farmers, especially those still struggling to remain in business.

He pointed out that the solution to this lingering scarcity and the high price of maize and soybean is to increase local production through farmers’ participation.

Iyayi explained that, if farmers can be properly trained on global best practices in feed production, individual farmers will be able to independently make quality feeds needed for their livestock consumption.

The DG, PAA, Francis Toromade said the academy is ready to help train farmers on global impactful practices (MIP) in maize and soybean production with the assistance of IITA.

According to him, IITA is renowned for quality research, which has helped transform and develop agriculture practices all over the world.

Speaking on behalf of IITA, the Head, Capacity Development Office, Sougrynoma Zainatou Soré expressed readiness to work with PAA and NIAS by supplying research documents used by IITA in improving its yield per hectare for soybean production and maize.

Source: The Guardian

by Panog Panog No Comments

Tackling maize shortage

Insecurity, border closures and restrictions following the COVID-9 pandemic contributed to the challenges maize farmers are facing to get seeds as the planting season kicks in across the country. The situation has raised fears that productivity will decline and threaten food security, as seed shortages are predicted for most staple crops.

Several parts of Africa are facing challenges of producing quality seeds for farmers as a result of the pandemic. Analysts have noted that unless a swift action is taken to facilitate producers’ access to seeds, the disruptions caused by the pandemic would lead to a decrease in agricultural production.

Last month, the Central Bank (CBN), through its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), released about 300,000 metric tonnes of maize into the market, to help reduce the prices of the product.

Earlier, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) facilitated waivers for four agro-processing firms to import 262,000 tonnes of maize to bridge the shortfall in production. The National President, Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) Bello Abubakar, blamed insecurity in the major maize producing belt of Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and some parts of Kano for the insufficiency of the product in the market. He explained that the planned dry season farming which is first of its kind in the country, timely distribution of inputs to farmers and improved security would significantly enhance production and ensure stability in price.

As part of the bank’s financing framework, the CBN has facilitated the funding of maize farmers and processors through the ABP Commodity Association, Private/Prime Anchors, state governments, Maize Aggregation Scheme (MAS), and the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS).

Confirming the release of credit to its members by the apex bank, Abubakar said over 200,000 farmers were planning to produce more than 25 million metric tonnes of maize in the 2020/2021 planting season.

According to him, the credit is disbursed to members along the maize value chain, located in different states of the country.

On the CBN’s gesture, the National President, Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama, noted that though the measure was short-term, it would go a long way to ameloriate the situation.

Iyama said since maize was one of the nation’s major grains and efforts should be focused on boosting production through continued support of famers with higher-quality seed at subsidised prices to farmers. Also, that the government should encourage farmers to increase maize cultivated areas across the states.

An Executive Director, Animal Care and the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Chapter, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Opeyemi Agbato, said the allocation and release of maize to key feed millers under the CBN’s Strategic Maize Reserve programme was a much-needed intervention.

His words: “For it, we sincerely applaud their initiative. They made true to their words and pronouncements of release. It was unfortunate that the release coincided with a time when the prices of soy beans seeds (whose by-product a critical source of protein in poultry feed) experienced an astronomical increase mostly due to rapid exportation. Even though there is a dire need for foreign exchange in the country, Soy is insufficient for local use, current exportation is at the detriment of local livestock farmers, particularly poultry farmers. We hope that in the future, more strategic holding and release facilities for maize would be made available in all regions for ease of accessibility and reduction in the cost of transportation.”

With skyrocketing prices of some essential foods, he hoped that the price of subsequent maize release would be further reduced to as low as N135-145,000/ metric tonne (MT) or about 35 per cent lower than prevailing prices to the consumers to force the drop in prices of maize and cost of producing animal feed and food.

The Chief Executive, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, said his organisation was providing a roadmap to high-yield growth opportunities in the aggregation, storage, and marketing of maize in Nigeria.

AFEX provides storage warehouses with a warehouse receipt system to enable the market viability of the crops and a fair price share for farmers.

Since Maize remains an indispensable staple role in the food processing and feeds industry, Balogun said the organisation was happy to be associated with the release to aid increased maize production and productivity.

“By facilitating the release of the 300,000MT Maize, leveraging support from credible players in the ecosystem including our team at AFEX, the CBN will offer over 35,000 farmers and agro-processors a channel through which they can trade maize at a subsidised rate, and thereby reduce the adverse effect of the maize price hike, increase local demand, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

“With maize being a core food basket, the allocation of the commodity to smallholder farmers, prime anchors such as Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Flour Mills, Livestock and Feeds processors, will create a sustainable availability and pricing structure in the market, reducing maize prices and bridging the supply gap and scarcity in the national and local market regions,” he added.

Courtsey: The Nation

by Panog Panog No Comments

Press Release

Poultry farmers Ijebu Zone, on egg prices.

All of us the executives of PANOG IJEBU ZONE as farmers are as troubled by the circumstances around us as you the members.

We are currently facing intense threat that might force farms to go underground, as a result of the serious challenges confronting our industry.

The rising cost of poultry feeds which cut across all the species and ages is one of the factors responsible.
Irregular prices and underpricing of our products is also a very big factor.

During the last festive season, large number of the farmers have closed-shops, while those still operating are either struggling to remain in business at zero profit or incurring huge debts to stay afloat.

As an association with a vision, the executives at the Zonal, State and South-West level held a press conference to appeal and send an SOS to the Federal Government of Nigeria to save the poultry industry from imminent collapse.

As we all wait for the outcome of the engagement between the state executive, SouthWest and the FG before trying ‘other options’, the Chairman and other executives of the zone are working round to clock to provide a solution to these problems.

“The major happening is that farmers have been selling below their cost price due to individualistic behaviour of some of our farmers. To further minimise our losses the Executives have directed all farmers to have a *minimum* selling price of a crate of egg to be *₦1200*

Also on the long and medium-term, the PANOG IJEBU ZONE is happy to inform our members that we are kick-starting our cooperative society which in future will help in terms of feed price regulation, price control, access to cheap and quality feed and raw materials and soon.

Our telephone number :
+234(0)8075444840 – Secretary Ijebu Zone
+234(0)8038826321- PRO Ijebu Zone

Don’t let the muggles get us down… Poultry farming shall rise again.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

The Executives.
Poultry Association of Nigeria.
Ogun State.
IJEBU ZONE.
POULTRY ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA. OGUN STATE. IJEBU ZONE.
10, CHRIS’ OGUNBANJO WAY, OPPOSITE COCA-COLA DEPOT, IJARI. IJEBU-ODE.*
Ogun state.
Nigeria.

by Panog Panog No Comments

Press Release

IMMINENT COLLAPSE OF POULTRY INDUSTRY: OVER 5MILLION JOBS THREATENED – SAVE OUR SOUL

The Poultry Industry in the South West Geo-Political Zone is over 6 decades growing consistently and steadily to a population of 30million a number representing more than 60% of the National Poultry Population. In investment, this sector is worth over N2 Trillion Naira. In job creation, it employs over 10 million people, directly and indirectly, using its wide value chain from farm to field.  It is worthy of note that this sector is almost 100% private driven.

However, if urgent attention is not given to the lingering crisis of Grains especially maize and Soya, we fear that an industry with such enviable statistics may suffer a total collapse.

About July 2020, the price of maize due to inadequate supply against the huge demand by the Poultry Sector and other users rose from a price of 105000 – 165000.   In the midst of this hike in price, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced a ban on Forex for the importation of maize which further drove the price too as high as 185000/TON.

Principal among the reasons for the BAN was to encourage local production.  Currently, the jobs of maize and soya beans growers are not in any way threatened because they cannot even meet the huge local demand for the products. Yet the acute scarcity and astronomical prices of soya beans and maize threaten additional five million poultry jobs in the short term except Your Excellency intervenes.

After much public outcry by the Poultry farmers, a concession was given to some Poultry Stakeholders to import 262000MT. This had long been done and in the onset of harvest which was November 2020, it was obvious that our local production was grossly inadequate to support the Poultry Industry through 2021 given the following reasons:

  • Shortfall in Rainfall and still being largely dependent on rain fed agriculture
  • Insecurity and Herdsmen Challenges which implied that most farmers did not plant
  • Higher demand for Maize in the Poultry Sector due to the Broiler Anchor Borrower Program of the FGN through CBN/NIRSAL
  • Export Activities some illegal

As at today, Maize is 210,000/MT in most states of the South West, Soya Meal 240000/MT. Due to the fact that these two items form about 75-78 % of an average poultry ration, the price of poultry feed has continuously been on the increase from about 2750 -3000 in April 2020 to 4850-5300 today.   In December, most farmers from small to large were unable to sell their broiler because the cost of production was even higher than what an average Nigerian can afford.   Presently, egg is going out of the reach of an average family with ideal price at 1300 per crate but the farm gate price is still at 1000-1100 a price that will force farmers to close down.

OUR PRAYERS

  1.  The Government to approve urgent importation of Animal Feed Grade of Maize to Sustain the over 50million layers, 100million broilers, 1million breeders, and other classes of poultry until the next harvest season.
  2. In the interim, Government to enforce a ban on export of Soya both seed and the Processed Meal.
  3. The Governors in the Southwest to put as much efforts to the cultivation of maize as they have done with rice. 
  4. A strong Collaboration between Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Soya Farmers Association of Nigeria and PAN to determine the body’s actual yearly need and assessing the later Yield Vis a Vis her need for proper planning.
  5. To save the current 10million jobs in the Poultry Value Chain of the Nigerian Economy.

Yours faithfully,

For: Poultry Association of Nigeria, South West

Dr. Olalekan Odunsi

General Secretary

by Panog Panog 1 Comment

Press Release

POULTRY INDUSTRY A TRILLION NAIRA INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA FACES IMMINENT COLLAPSE AS PRICES OF MAIZE, SOYA BEANS, SOYA BEANS MEAL AND FINISHED FEED RISES UNABATEDLY

The Poultry Industry is the most capitalised in the Agric Sector with its worth estimated to be about a Trillion naira and employing over a million Nigerians directly and indirectly through its wide value chain from the field to fork. The Federal Government also in recent times in trying to solve the unemployment problems have committed a lot of resources in engaging the Nigerian Youths in Broiler Production using the Anchor Borrowers Programme. 

Poultry Association of Nigeria Ogun State holding a reasonable percentage of the total national poultry population wish to alert the Federal Government, The Nigerian Governors Forum, The South West Governors Forum, The Governor of Ogun State, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Customs and all relevant agencies that this industry faces an imminent collapse if urgent interventions are not instituted.

Read more