Problems and Prospects of Poultry Production in Nigeria

In this post we look at the problems and prospects of poultry production in Nigeria. Poultry production has provided human with a lot of useful purposes, as poultry products increased immensely in the last decades.

In Nigeria for example, poultry production is one of the major sub-sectors that provided Nigerians with nutrients. Poultry meat and eggs are source of protein, and over the years, poultry production has contributed tremendously to the economic growth of this nation.

Poultry production in Nigeria is both for subsistence and commercial purposes. According to report, poultry production has grown to contribute a good percent of agricultural products to the nation’s economy. For example, Nigeria is leading African continent in the production of eggs, as well as major production of broiler.

Poultry production is gaining ground in Nigeria because of the part it plays in contributing high quality of protein for human consumption through poultry meat and eggs.

Moreso, poultry farming has provided employment opportunities for Nigerians. However, in Nigeria, the use of modern technology has been integrated in poultry production with facilities such as hatcheries, facilities; feed mill among others hence, local poultry production are encouraged as there is embargo, banning poultry products importation.

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But even then there are some challenges as to whether Nigerians will be able to meet the sustainable level of poultry production in this country. There is need therefore, to put necessary measure down that will help Nigerians and encourage them to engage in commercial production in a way that will serve the need of Nigerians and for the exportation purposes.

What is poultry production?

Poultry production is the rearing of all kinds of domestic birds

Prospects of poultry production in Nigeria

1. Food supply

Poultry production over the years has made significant impact in the area of food supply to the Nigerian citizens. For example, poultry meat and eggs are the source of high quality protein, vitamins and minerals. These poultry products can be used to prepare or cook different food for consumption, these foods produced from poultry products can come in form of chicken chips, and rolls, egg salad etc.

2. Industrial supply

Poultry products are used for industrial purpose, such as medical and pharmaceutical purposes. For instance, vaccine is produced from poultry product such as eggs, again those parts of eggs that are not good for food are used to fertilize the soil as plant nutrients and that also serves as animal feeds. The white part of egg is used for cloth dyeing and book binding. Printer’s ink and leather tanning are also products from white egg. Whereas, soap, shampoo and paint are produced from egg yolk. Poultry feathers are good source of mattress, and pillow, and insulating materials.

3. Income generation

Poultry production has been a source of income generation to many Nigerians who have engaged in poultry farming. A good number of youths and women have earned income from rearing poultry and selling poultry products. One does not need large startup capital to embark on poultry production, and this agricultural sub-sector is made attractive to Nigerian youths with the availability of modern technology facilities, which has help encouraged commercial production of poultry products.

4. Employment opportunities

Poultry production has played enormous role in creating employment opportunity for Nigerians. Some however, have embarked on selling poultry products only, and this opportunity is serving as a source of employment for Nigerians. Unemployed Nigerian youths have as of today, gained full employment through poultry production.

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Problems of poultry production in Nigeria

1. Diseases and dead of birds

Poultry farmers in Nigeria have encountered serious challenges in poultry production. For the most part, these challenges have brought about low productivity in poultry production in Nigeria.

A good number of Nigerians have been discouraged from poultry production, given frequent dead of birds recorded in recent times, coupled with birds’ diseases. This challenge has forced poultry farmers to sell the products at low prices without considering making profits.

2. Lack of funds

In most cases, lack of collateral to collect loans from commercial banks has been another challenge staring at poultry farmers and production of poultry products in Nigeria. Hence, an inadequate fund to purchase birds feeds has lead to decrease in poultry production in Nigeria.

3. Inadequate supply of protein for consumption

Poultry products are major source of protein for human consumption, but unfortunately, the supply of these nutrients from poultry production does not meet the demand of protein consumption, occasioned by high cost of animal feeds. This challenge has been one of the problems facing poultry production in Nigeria. The success of poultry production is hampered by this challenge hence, has lead to insufficient supply of nutrients.

Conclusions and Suggestions

It is of great important that the challenges facing poultry production in Nigeria be address holistically, poultry production must thrive successfully in this country. Management problem too, should be looked at and address once and for all. Relevant authorities should look for possible ways of proffering solutions to poultry production problems in Nigeria.

There is need also to put measures on ground that will fight birds’ diseases. This will improve poultry production and increase protein in-take among Nigerians.

Moreso, modern day technological facilities for commercial poultry production in Nigeria should be put in place to ensure increase in production and high productivity. And these facilities must come in form of eggs hatcheries, feed production mills, etc.

To overcome all the challenges facing poultry production in Nigeria, all the relevant authorities should come in to intervene, government should make the necessary facilities and logistics available for poultry farmers in the country, such logistics and infrastructure could be quality roads network to be constructed or the deplorable ones improved and maintain to help allow access for vehicles to convey poultry products and birds’ feeds from the farm to the market place and vice versa.

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Although in Nigeria, poultry production is not quite commercial intensive as it supposed in this era of technology advancement. Countries are integrating new technology into their poultry production by way of using economics of scale or large scale production.

Taking a leave from what some of our neigbouring countries are doing in respect to poultry farming, Nigeria’s poultry production will grow from low to high base. This will help to improve standard of living in the country.

Meat and eggs for human consumption will be surplus; employment opportunity in the country will increase. Again, relevant authority should help create a new market for poultry farmers to encourage poultry production in the country.

Poultry farmers in the country should also be encouraged through provision of financial assistance or loans from commercial banks, next is that, the condition of securing this loans should be affordable with low interest rate.

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