POULTRY FARMERS OMISSION IN FG'S SURE-P PROJECT

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