The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, has expressed strong approval of the Lagos State Government’s plan to subsidize poultry feed costs.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, PAN’s Chairman, Mojeed Iyiola, commended the state government’s initiative, describing it as a timely and necessary intervention for poultry and fish farmers in Lagos State.
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“The rising cost of feed materials has been a major challenge for the sector’s growth and productivity,” Iyiola said.
“As an association, our goal in 2025 is to find ways to reduce the cost of production so that the final product from the poultry industry remains affordable for the masses. We have had several meetings and consultations with the Lagos State Government and the Commissioner for Agriculture, and we are pleased to see their commitment to intervening.”
The chairman further explained that the initiative to subsidize feed materials, which make up a significant portion of production costs, would help alleviate the financial strain on farmers.
However, he noted that the subsidy would initially be available to a limited number of financial members within the association.
“The feed materials subsidization will cater to a few members at first,” Iyiola clarified.
“But we hope that this intervention will be expanded to benefit more farmers in the future.”
The cost of feed has become a crippling issue for many poultry farmers, forcing some to shut down their operations.
Iyiola highlighted that the price of a 25kg bag of tartare has soared to nearly N20,000, making it difficult for farmers to maintain their businesses.
“For example, a 25kg bag of tartare sells for almost N20,000,” he said. “If the government can subsidize it, the price may drop to N15,000 or even N10,000, which would go a long way in reducing the cost of production.”
The PAN chairman expressed hope that this intervention would lead to a more sustainable and cost-effective poultry industry in Lagos, helping farmers stay afloat and continue to provide affordable products to consumers.