Stories by John Oba
Abuja
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Egg Day, the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has stated that the poultry industry in Nigeria is a multi-trillion naira business if the federal government focuses investment in the sector.
Speaking at a press conference to mark the event at the weekend in Abuja, PAN National President, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said the egg industry produces about one billion eggs per annum valued at approximately N220 billion, but that an egg a day for 50% of the Nigerian population will produce a daily economic value of N1.7 billion while annual revenue for egg sales will be N620 billion and that if per capital consumption of eggs increases to 100 eggs per person per year, adding that annual revenue would be 340 billion.
He said Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) various research findings have indicated that in the next 40 years, meat and egg production will have to grow by huge 75% to meet the demand for animal protein, but that Nigerian farmers can meet the demand if proper support is provided by the government.
Oduntan further said as part of the association’s prayers that President Muhammadu Buhari should push through it his promise to include an egg a day per Nigerians child in the school feeding program, adding that all relevant agencies including ministries of Agriculture, health, information, women affairs, youth and sports should launch campaigns encouraging consumption of an egg a day by children, sports men and women, pregnant and lactating women, active hard working adults as done by the USA, Canada and others.
He said egg should be consider as a priority food product that could be supplied to displaced people at various IDP camps, saying aside from breast milk, eggs have the highest protein biological value.
“Nigeria is distinguishing itself in a very negative way in the area of children malnutrition, poultry business is a multi-trillion naira business but other countries are the ones benefiting from it.
“Eggs are the best follow up to breast milk in children as it contains the richest mix of essential amino acids. It contains the perfect combination of protein, 12 vitamins and 12 minerals.
Egg helps to regulate the brain, nervous system and cardiovascular system since one egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline, helping both memory and mental capacity,” Oduntan said as he rail out the benefits of egg.
He said poultry business is huge and the government need to take advantage of it as it can create over one million jobs in two years but lamented that two thirds of chickens produce in Nigeria are smuggle, urging Nigerian Custom Service to extend the period of it current operation to stop smuggling as it has yielded fruits wondering however that the gains may be eroded if it is not sustained.
He also lamented bank lending rates to farmers in Nigeria, saying agriculture can not survive under such credit facility excepts loans are giving in a single digit rates.
