The Struggle of Smallholder Poultry Farmers in Nigeria
As the festive season approaches, smallholder poultry farmers across Nigeria are facing a significant challenge: the rising prices of day-old chicks and pullets. This issue is particularly acute during the months leading up to Christmas and New Year, when demand for chicken meat is at its peak. However, this year, the situation has become more dire due to a shortage of day-old chick supply.
From September every year, smallholder poultry farmers begin raising broilers with the aim of meeting the high demand for chicken meat during the yuletide season. But this year, many farmers are concerned about the high prices, which could make it difficult for families to afford meat during their celebrations.
The Delta State chapter of the Poultry Association of Nigeria raised the alarm on social media, highlighting the daily struggles of farmers due to the scarcity of day-old pullets. They questioned why there was such a sudden scarcity despite the availability of raw materials and lower feed prices from some companies.
The poultry industry in Nigeria has faced numerous challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of many small and medium-scale farms. According to sources, approximately 80% of the day-old chicks produced in Nigeria are exported to other African countries, creating a gap in domestic supply.
Exporting Birds to Neighboring Countries
The export of Nigerian birds to countries like Ghana and Cameroon has been a major factor in the current shortage. These countries often pay upfront for the birds, making them a preferred market for Nigerian hatcheries. A former ECWA Farm Manager in Jos, Yilkes Zumunci Bitrus, acknowledged that the quality of birds in these countries is not as good as those from Nigeria, leading to higher demand.
Zumunci explained that the high demand from neighboring countries has caused hatcheries to prioritize exports over local sales. He compared this situation to how Nigerians often prefer foreign goods over locally made products, even when the latter are of comparable quality.
In addition to the export issue, the upcoming yuletide season is another reason for the scarcity of day-old chicks and pullets. Many farms are holding back their birds to sell them at higher prices during December, when demand is expected to be high. This strategy allows them to recover losses incurred during the low-demand periods of January and February, when bird prices crashed.
Rising Prices and Farmer Concerns
According to the chief executive officer, the crash in prices during January and February was so severe that some farms resorted to burning their birds due to lack of buyers. When asked why hatcheries don’t distribute chicks to local farmers, Zumunci explained that doing so would encourage farmers to wait for free chicks instead of purchasing them regularly.
Solomon John, the public relations officer of the Plateau State Poultry Association, agreed with Zumunci’s assessment, noting that some hatcheries are also struggling with issues related to parent stock not laying enough eggs.
Madam Grace, a poultry owner in Jos, shared her frustration after being told she would have to wait until next year to get day-old chicks and pullets. She mentioned that the prices for pullets and day-old chicks were between N1,800 and N1,820, while broilers were priced at N1,750.
Challenges in Kano
In Kano, Hajara Sani, a housewife, expressed disappointment upon learning that day-old broilers required booking and would take two to three months to arrive. She noted that the price for a day-old broiler was N1,700, while a day-old layer cost N1,300.
The chairman of the Kano State Poultry Farmers Association, Dr Usman Gwarzo, attributed the scarcity to production challenges, including difficulties in securing foreign exchange for importing parent stocks. He also highlighted the lack of government support and banking services for poultry farmers, which makes it hard for them to thrive.
Dr Gwarzo explained that the price of a day-old broiler from the hatchery was N1,700, but it would reach Kano at approximately N1,900. He added that the process of hatching broilers and layers was the same, but hatcheries tend to focus more on broilers due to higher profit margins.
Additional Factors Affecting the Market
Abba Abdu, a seller of poultry feeds and live birds in Kano, noted that the scarcity of day-old chicks was causing long waits for customers. He attributed this to some farmers focusing on exporting to Arab countries, which created an imbalance in the local market.
Ms Nanji Gambo-Oke, the immediate past public relations officer of the Poultry Farmers Association in Plateau State, pointed out that the dynamics of demand and supply play a crucial role in the market. She emphasized that factors such as power shortages, feed prices, and hatchery operations all contribute to the current situation.
Power is a critical factor affecting the price of chicks, as many hatcheries operate on diesel for 75% of the time. Gambo-Oke also mentioned that hatcheries often reduce their capacity during off-seasons, leading to financial losses.
Despite these challenges, the demand for day-old chicks and pullets remains high, especially during seasonal events like Christmas and fasting periods. As the festive season approaches, farmers and consumers alike are bracing for continued price fluctuations and supply issues.
