Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, on Friday alerted that the price of eggs would continue to rise if the challenges bedeviling the industry were not addressed by the government.
Pius Aminu, Chairman, FCT Chapter of PAN, said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 World Egg Day with the theme “Egg for better Life’’.
Mr Aminu listed the contributing factors to hike in price of eggs as closure of most farms, lack of access to credit facilities by the farmers, high cost of maize, soybeans and other micro ingredients for poultry feed production.
According to him, hike in cost of feed production has resulted to high cost of feed across the country, thereby making it unaffordable to farmers.
Other factors included insecurity and lack of access road to poultry farm among others.
The current price of crate of egg ranges between N1800 to N2, 000 while the price per egg ranges between N50 to N80.
Mr Aminu lamented that at the moment, demand for the product was higher than the few farms presently in production.
“At the moment it’s very difficult for price of eggs to come down, rather it will continue to rise because the demand is higher than supply due to number of farms that have closed down.
“We are not sure how much we are going to buy eggs in the next one month, it may go as high as N2,500 or more as the case may be.
“Exchange rates is really affecting micro ingredients used to formulate feed; so for now we do not know but definitely I can’t guarantee that price will remain as it is now,’’ he said.
Mr Aminu, however, appealed to the Federal Government and the FCT Minister to assist farmers through the provision of grants, making loan facilities flexible and easily accessible to farmers as well as guarantee their security.
He said “World Egg Day was all about recognising egg as an incredibly unique source of protein and essential nutrients, all within an accessible and affordable package,”
Also, Musa Akeem, Sectary of the association, speaking on the nutritional value of egg, described it as the richest and cheapest source of protein and vitamins required by every individual, irrespective of age.
According to him, egg contains a lot of healthy cholesterol, protein and amino acid, vitamin A among others.
Edith Onyeji, Financial Secretary of PAN, urged government to aid farmers in the area of marketing as well as value addition for egg through the provision of technology to covert eggs to powder form among others.
World Egg Day is celebrated annually to highlight many benefits eggs bring to human health and livelihoods everywhere.
This year’s theme ‘Eggs for a better life’ shines a spotlight on the power of egg to improve nutritional and environmental outcomes, leading to better lives for all.
NAN
