From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The prohibitive cost of maize, which is a major component of poultry feeds, is forcing farms to close shop in Delta State.
The development is coming with the inevitability of workers being laid off which may result in youth restiveness in the oil rich state.
The cost of maize rose from N225,000 to N405,000 per tonne (representing 75 per cent price increase) with the potential of rising higher.
As a result, about 600 poultry farms are in line to be closed as owners can no longer sustain their respective enterprises.
Addressing journalists in Asaba on Wednesday, the Chairman of Delta State chapter of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Eric Tomfawei, stressed that despite the recent increase in the cost of maize, farmers in Delta State are unable to increase prices because many farmers are already experiencing gluts in egg and broiler production.
Tomfawei appealed to relevant government agencies to release adequate quantities of maize from the Strategic Food Reserve to the poultry industry at discounted rate to address the spiralling cost of maize. “There is also the need for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to release enough quantity of maize to the poultry industry through the association at discounted prices to address this situation.
“Apart from the direct impact on hunger crisis, more youths, who are engaged by the poultry industry will be thrown back into the labour market with attendant security implication,” he said.
He alleged that poultry farmers are being frustrated by the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) and the Strategic Maize Reserve (SMR) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by its cancellation of allocations of 40,000 metric tonnes of maize meant to assist poultry farmers.
Tomfawei accused officials of the Nigeria Commodity Exchange and the Strategic Food Reserve of CBN of hoarding of maize, and urged President Bola Tinubu to set up an investigative panel to get to the root of the problem.
He urged support for the poultry industry to prevent its imminent collapse, and warned of the country becoming a dumping ground for imported poultry products, if the right steps are not taken.
Tomfawei urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to address the issue of egg and broiler glut crisis affecting poultry farmers in the state.