Poultry farmers in Ogun, have called for government intervention in the production of bird feeds in the country.

The farmers said they were facing tough time in getting maize and soya beans for the production of bird feeds.

The poultry farmers made the call at the “Nigeria Poultry Show” on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

Dr Olalekan Odunsi, a poultry farmer and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the show spoke on behalf of other farmers.

Odunsi noted that the increase in the cost of maize and soya was having adverse effect on local poultry production.

He expressed concern that the growing cost of maize had crippled activities in most local poultry farms, adding that this is also affecting the prices of poultry produce in the country.

According to Odunsi, the scarcity of maize , soya beans and the continuous rise in its cost has consequences on poultry farmers, as well as all associated sectors linked to the poultry value chain.

“Our major challenge is raw materials which include maize and soya beans.

“We do not have adequate maize and soya beans.

“Even the soya bean that is not adequate is being exported by some companies.

“We want government to stop the export of soya beans so that we can conserve it for local use,” he said.

Odunsi also appealed to government to continue to create enabling environment and friendly interest rate from banks.

He said this would assist farmers to have access to good loan facilities to boost their production and make profit.

In his goodwill message, Dr Adeola Odedina , Ogun Commissioner for Agriculture, reiterated the state government’s commitment to increase the production of chicken in the state.

Odedina said the current administration was committed to working with poultry farmers to encourage mass production of livestock and eggs for export value-chain.

“When it comes to poultry farming, you know Ogun state is number one and that is why we do not joke with it.

“We are ready to partner with interested stakeholders to make profits so that stakeholder can also key into it.

“We are doing this to continue to make Ogun state a destination of choice for investors and continues to be an industrial hub of the nation.

“Ogun state is the highest producer of eggs.

“We are going to continue to provide enabling environment for poultry business to strive and also partner with private sectors and other agencies in Nigeria, ” he said.