By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta 

The Chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter (PANOG), Alhaji Yinka Lawal has called on governments at level in Nigeria to stop wasting money on frivolities, but prioritise genuine commitment to boost food production through mechanized farming.

Lawal, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, declared that governments’ efforts at guaranteeing food security for the nation may remain futile untill the three tiers of government show genuine commitment in mechanised farming to boost food production.

He called on government to desist from wasting money on frivolities such as purchasing of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in 2025, but prioritise genuine commitment at boosting food production through mechanised farming.

He said “to solve the food insecurity crisis the country currently grapples with, government at all levels must address the problem of insecurity. People must feel secured to go about their farming business”.

“Secondly, let the government embrace mechanised farming, let them stop buying SUVs but tractors, harvesters that can be be used to clear our vast arable and fertile land, especially in the South-West. Palliatives can never help us, only mechanised farming will save us from the food crisis”.

“If I am to be modest, the poultry farmers in Ogun State use at least 100 trailers loads of maize in a month, just imagine the economy around that supposing the maize is grown in the state”. 

“We have the land and that is why we are calling for the government support. It is something we can do with the right support. This is the route the government at all levels should follow in the 2025”.

Speaking on the exorbitant prices of poultry products during the just concluded yuletide season, Lawal, blamed it on the emergence of the “backyard farmers”, who produced at high cost and were “too desperate” to recoup profits from their investment in poultry farming under short periods.

“The truth is that these backyard poultry farmers produce at a very high cost and wanted to sell their birds at higher costs that would bring quick profits. Ordinarily, a chicken was not supposed to sell beyond N12, 000 and N15, 000 maximum as against the price of N30, 000 we had in December “.

“We are part of the food security stakeholders in this country and we are appealing to these backyard farmers to join our association to enable them avail themselves with necessary information about poultry farming”.

He explained that most of the seasonal and backyard poultry farmers usually produce at a very high cost whereas, the cost at which they produce would have been very minimal if they had joined the poultry association.

“As members of the poultry association, there are some benefits that we enjoy, we can decide to buy our feeds in bulk and then sell at a cheaper price to our members than what is obtainable in the market. We have lots of information that can help cut down on our cost of production which non members do not have, so, to solve this challenge”.

As a panacea towards avoiding future occurrence of the arbitrary price inflation of poultry products, Lawal however, disclosed that his association was planning a 4-centers’ market hub where the people of the state can purchase poultry products at controlled prices without injuries to their budgets.

Lawal also appealed to state governments throughout the country to evolve a ban and penalties on roadside sales of poultry products, as well as those he described as political farmers, who usually seized advantage of their closeness to governments to divert agriculture policies to their favour.