Nigeria in shortfall of 529,000 metric tons of poultry meat —Minister

THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Muhammed Abubakar has said that the 2019 projection by the ministry shows that Nigeria is on a production deficit of 529,000 for poultry meat.

The Minister disclosed this on Monday at the commissioning of the Cottage Poultry Processing Facility at Dei-Dei market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He said the country consumes 1.8 million metric tons of poultry meat annually but produces only 551,000 metric tons, leaving it with a deficit of 529,000 metric tons.

“According to FAO (2019), Nigeria is the largest annual egg producer with the second largest chicken population in Africa amounting to about 180 million birds. Of these, about 44 per cent are raised in extensive systems, 33 per cent in semi-intensive and 23 per cent in intensive systems.

“Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development projection of poultry meat output and demand put the national output at 551,000 MT and demand at 1,080,000 MT thus leaving a supply gap of 529,000 MT.

“Currently, 85 million Nigerians are involved in one form of poultry business or the other making intervention in the poultry sector imperative forfor job creation and income generation for farmers and processors and marketers as well aws for the country”, he said.

He said the government is transforming the livestock industry through establishment of cottage poultry processing facilities to provide a prototype for others to emulate.

“As part of the Federal Government efforts in transforming the livestock industry, the establishment of a cottage poultry processing facility within the Dei-Dei market is to bring best practices closer to the beneficiaries and the market community at large. It is also to provide a prototype for others to emulate.

Also, Munir Dan-Agundi, Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions,said the facility would create a lot of opportunities for poultry providers to process and sell to the public in a hygienic environment.

Earlier, Mrs Winnie Solarin, the Director, Animal Husbandry, ministry of Agriculture said the ministry established the poultry cottage  to provide best practices in the processing and storage of poultry.