FCT poultry farmers want govt.'s assistance to boost business



 Some poultry farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the government to provide financial support to farmers, to boost poultry business in the area.
The farmers made the call on Wednesday in Abuja in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
They contended that such assistance would encourage people especially women and youths go into poultry farming.
Mr Felix Wodi, a poultry farmer at Union Farms in Abaji Area Council, noted that one of the major challenges facing poultry farmers in the country was lack of capital.
``There are lots of people especially women who desired to be poultry farmers but lack the necessary fund to go into the business.
`` I am appealing that such people should be encouraged especially with this economic meltdown in the country.
``Poultry farming is a very lucrative business if one has enough money to invest in the business. ``
Also, Mr Musa Onimisi, a poultry farmer at Ajima Farms along Kuje-Gwagealada road, said government should accord same attention to poultry farming as it has done to rice production.
``Fish farmers, poultry farmers, cassava and tomatoes farmers also need government`s intervention in order to boost the export base of the country, `` he said.
Meanwhile, poultry farmers in Gwagwalada and environs said they recorded losses during the last Easter, due to low patronage of their products.

Mrs Juliana David, a poultry farmer in Kuje, said she had to sell off her chicken at give away prices.
``Because of the poor sales and the recent outbreak of bird flu, the business had not been very encouraging.
``The Ministry of Agriculture should assist us with some grants so that we can improve the business, `` she said.
Another poultry farmer, Mr Simon Gado said, lamented over the high cost of poultry feeds, which he said had gone up from N2, 600 per bag to between N2, 800 and N2, 900.
NAN reports that prices of chicken in the area now range from N1, 500 to N2, 000 for old layers, N2,500 and N3,000 for medium size broilers, and between N3,000 and N4, 000 for large size broilers. 

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