By Felicia Imohimi
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), on Friday advised farmers against taking advantage of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), pandemic to peg exorbitant prices on eggs.
Mr Ezekiel Ibrahim, PAN president, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, that the current situation was a time for poultry farmers to give back to the society, and not to make abnormal profit.
According to him, egg is very critical and important as it helps to build the body’s immunity against diseases.
“The present situation posed by COVID-19 pandemic, is a period when people need eggs the most to boost their immune system and nutrition status; so farmers, egg dealers or sellers should sell at a very moderate price.
“This is a clarion call for all of us to come out and help one another,” Ibrahim said.
The PAN president appreciated the feed millers for marginally reducing their price and their hatcheries, adding that this had made the cost of production cheaper.
He, however, urged farmers having excess eggs that they were unable to sell to contact the national office, saying that the office would create an avenue where they could sell off their eggs.
“Anybody producing 200 crates of eggs and above per day, who does not have the market, or is having difficulty disposing them locally, should contact the national office,’’ Ibrahim said.
He further urged states that required eggs as palliative to assist their citizens but lacked the product, to also contact the national office for assistance.
Ibrahim, however, cautioned poultry farmers against the local production of feeds, except those with feed mills in their farms.
According to him, considering the Coronavirus pandemic, undertaking town milling or compounding feed locally is hazardous at the moment and could expose their chickens to infection.
“So this period, you should try to go for the standard feed millers but if you have your feed millers on your farm, that is okay,” the PAN president said. (NAN)
Credit: NAN