Agric Experts Decry Continuous Eggs, Chickens Importation

Agric Experts Decry Continuous Eggs, Chickens Importation

Experts in the agriculture sector have condemned the persistent importation of chicken and eggs into Nigeria, urging the government at all levels to integrate rural women and youths into poultry business.

During the launch of African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) in Nigeria, a lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Funso Sonaiya, described the training and empowerment of rural dwellers as the best way of reducing poverty and improving food production.

While delivering a paper on ‘Chicken Genetics Resources and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Nigeria’, Sonaiya said: “a few chickens can be a step towards food security and poverty eradication in the rural areas.”

In her address, Director, Biotech Centre, Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB, Abeokuta, Prof. Funmi Adebambo, explained that the project was aimed at the economic empowerment and improved health and nutrition of the rural dwellers.

According to her, “Over 70 per cent of Nigerians living in the rural areas covered by this definition of rural poor and who in 2001 were found to have contributed over 0.8 million tonnes of meat and 1.1 million tonnes in 2004 from over 117.3 million indigenous chickens in 2001 and 144.2 million chickens in 2004 are still being neglected, rendered voiceless and left to their fate in abject poverty.”

She noted that the launching of ACGG programme would fashion the pathway for innovative and strategic integration of millions of Nigerians who are basically made up of women and youths into the Poultry Value Chain.

ACGG Programme leader, International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia, Dr. Tadelle Dessie, said the vision of the organisation is to catalyse public-private partnerships for increasing small-holder chicken production and productivity growth as a pathway out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has restated its commitment towards supporting poultry business in the rural areas in order to ensure food security as well as put an end to the importation of poultry products into Nigeria.