Govt urged to regularise price of day old chicks

THE Federal Government particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been called upon to come with policy that will control and regularise the price of day oid chicks in the country.

Making the call was a poultry farmer, Ummulkhair Jibril of Nigrows Organic Farm while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune. He noted that there was the need for the continuous and unreasonable increase in price of day old chicks in Nigeria needs to stop.

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He pointed out that the price of day old chicks have continuously increased towards festive period, stating that the hike in price is no longer related to festivity as the hatcheries determine their price at will without cause.

Jubril, also informed that:”Day old chicks were sold between N330 and N400 per chick few weeks before Christmas with farmers bearing the loss of mortality upon arrival and before maturity.

“Presently, chicks are sold at N350 and we are in January, so by February, we shall be buying between N500 and N600 per chick. What we were told was that there is high demand. If the cost of production which includes electricity, feeding and others is stable then I do not believe there should be an increase in price of chicks before or after service periods”.

He further stated that:”The most disheartening aspect of these whole issue is that there is no guarantee that the birds would survive till maturity. Some of these birds come with hatchery related issues which results in high mortality.

“As much as the government is trying to give agriculture a facelift, if things like this continue to happen then we are still back to zero level. Why should imported chicken smuggled into Nigeria be cheaper than the ones raised here?

“Chicken laced with all sorts of chemicals for preservation. Why should a farmer struggle to produce in his own country? Why should a Nigerian buy a product made in Nigeria nore expensive than imported one?

“I therefore use this medium to appeal to the government and all relevant agencies to please see to this matter and act fast by coming up with policies that will bring about change in this important sector of agriculture. By doing this poultry farmers will do their business with ease”. He concluded.

Also, a laboratory and livestock consultant, Mr Tunmise Olagbaju of Real People Concept said:”It is not profitable to raise broiler at the present price particularly for those of us that raise broiler for processor.

“Farmers do not have control over price of day old chick, feed and the cost we sell our products. We hereby call on government to step into this matter and come up with price regulation policy or give subsidy to farmers. Primary producers are suffering in silence.

“If the situation continue this way, many farmers will stop production and that may negatively affect the Nigerian economy. Governemnt should please act fast to save farmers from this dillema”.

Another farmer, Harry Folami stated that the problem will continue yearly until goverment set up a price regulatory body on agro commodities. He noted that:”Change may occur due to sudden change due to production factors but it should not be as high as this.

“My submission is that there should be agro commodities price control unit in every local government, state and up to the federal level. When this is done, there will be normalcy in the sector”.

Folami, further suggested that there should be help from government by way of subsidy. “Quick intervention from government is highly needed to check those factors responsible for hike in prices of agro commodities”.

Idrissa Madaki, who has a divergent view of the matter said:”Pricing is dependent on many factors as such it will not be uniform or fixed as cost of production keeps changing. Therefore, it is difficult to have a fixed price for day old chicks”.