Poultry farmers decry omission in FG’s SURE-P intervention fund

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has condemned the omission of poultry farmers in the Federal Government Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) intervention on Agriculture.

According to them, the alleged omission of poultry farmers in the league of Nigerians in need of financial bailout is misplaced priorities as they are also in dire need of financial support to help the industry to grow and maximise profit.

It also said that the once vibrant Nigerian poultry industry, which has become a ‘pariah industry’ in the eyes of many financial institutions that has prevented farmers from securing credit facilities, will soon suffer economic death if urgent and necessary enabling environment is not provided by the government since the influx of cheaper poultry products from international market is looming.

Jointly speaking at the 2013 World Egg Day Celebration in Abeokuta at the weekend, Olufemi Faniyi and Olalekan Odunsi, the chairmen of Poultry Asocciation of Nigeria, South-West and Ogun State respectively, disclosed that Nigerian poultry farmers are groaning under an over 100% increase in the price of raw materials used in poultry production in comparison with other developing countries.

Olufemi Faniyi submitted that despite the patriotism and economic contribution of poultry farmers, even though under harsh economic condition, the government has neither patronised nor provided enabling environment for poultry business to thrive, saying if urgent bailout action is not taken the poultry industry will soon witness an exodus of people.

Faniyi, who commended Osun state government that has adopted an intake of poultry product among its school enrolment by noting that “70 percent of school enrolment in Osun state has adopted and taken an egg per day,” urging government at all levels to patronise the locally-produced poultry products and create enabling environment for their business to thrive.

But Olalekan Odunsi believes that Federal Government could come to the poultry farmers’ rescue through inclusion in the SURE-P scheme, provision of a single-digit loan with reasonable moratorium time frame and continued guarding against the importation of poultry products, saying it was high the Federal Government arrested the situation.

By: RAZAQ AYINLA