Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on May 17, 2019 19:46:46 GMT 1
FARMERS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO REGULARISE PRICE OF DAY OLD CHICKS
Making the call to regularise price of chicks was a poultry farmer, Ummulkhair Jibril of Nigrows Organic Farm. He has called on the Federal Government particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to come with policy that will control and regularise the price of day oid chicks in the country.
He said that there was the need for the continuous and unreasonable increase in price of day old chicks in Nigeria needs to stop.
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.
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.
“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”.
”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?" Jubril said.
Making the call to regularise price of chicks was a poultry farmer, Ummulkhair Jibril of Nigrows Organic Farm. He has called on the Federal Government particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to come with policy that will control and regularise the price of day oid chicks in the country.
He said that there was the need for the continuous and unreasonable increase in price of day old chicks in Nigeria needs to stop.
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.
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.
“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”.
”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?" Jubril said.
