Food security: Ogun supports 850 poultry farmers with discounted feeds

The Ogun State Government has supported 850 poultry farmers across the state with 80 bags of feeds per farmer at 30 per cent discount.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this on Thursday during his visit to Elere village to flag off the processing of about 13,000 chicken at Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.

Supreme news reports that the support was through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP).

Owotomo said the 13,000 chicken was raised by 26 poultry farmers who benefited from the OGSTEP 30 per cent bird feed discount earlier.

He said the initiative was to boost poultry farming and increase the per capital consumption of chicken in the state.

He said the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration was determined to reduce to the barest minimum the burden associated with poultry production in the state.

This, he said, informed the decision to provide feeds at discounted rate to some poultry farmers through OGSTEP.

“In Nigeria, we have protein deficit because we still import a lot of poultry products from other countries .

‘However, in Ogun State, our poultry consumption is 250,000 metric tonnes and we can only provide about 120,000 metric tonnes despite the fact that we are the poultry capital of Nigeria with the largest concentration of poultry farmers,” he said.

The commissioner called on farmers that benefited from the programme to ensure the continuity of the initiative by re-investing some of their profits into the business to further boost poultry production.

In her remark, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs kehinde Jokotoye, commended the poultry farmers for making good use of the 30 per cent discount on feeds given by government to enhance their business.

On her part, the State Coordinator, OGSTEP, Mrs Mosun Owo-Odunsi, described OGSTEP as a multi-sectoral project aimed at boosting food security and improving livelihood of farmers.

Earlier, Mrs Oluseyi Olugbire, OGSTEP Agric Project Manager, in her welcome address, appreciated the collaborative efforts of the service provider, the off taker, as well as the farmers in making the intervention timely and impactful.

Speaking on behalf of other poultry farmers, Mr Ahmed Alli, Chairman Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mowe zone, appreciated the state government for the support given to the poultry farmers,

Alli said the support would go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by poultry farmers.