The Poultry Association of Nigeri, Lagos State chapter, along with industry stakeholders, has raised concerns over the escalating costs of raw materials for egg production, which are significantly driving up egg prices.
They are urging the Federal Government to intervene to stabilize the market.
Stakeholders noted that eggs, previously a widely accessible source of protein, are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many Nigerians.
In an interview in Lagos on Sunday, the Chairman of PAN, Mr. Mojeed Iyiola, attributed the rising egg prices to the escalating costs of raw materials for bird feed, according to Nairametrics.
He said, “The price of a crate of egg keeps getting expensive because of the high cost of raw materials. Despite all the government’s support and the open window for the importation of maize, the prices of feeds are not even going down at all.
“This is because other raw materials for the formulation of bird feeds are not being subsidised at all.
“Although maize takes between 60 and 65 per cent of feed production, other materials are on the high side.
“We still pay high prices for materials like soya, methylene, lysine and premix. So, the intervention of government has not even reflected at all on the price of poultry produce.”
Iyiola revealed that a crate of eggs now costs at least N5,000, with smaller sizes priced between N4,300 and N4,500.
He highlighted the strain on poultry farmers caused by rising prices, despite a slight decrease in maize costs.
Other stakeholders also cited inadequate infrastructure, economic pressures, and environmental factors as significant contributors to the ongoing crisis in egg production and sales.
The poultry industry is facing challenges due to rising production costs, primarily driven by increasing maize prices, a key ingredient in poultry feed.
Earlier, the Poultry Association of Nigeria reported that over 50% of its farms closed in 2023, attributing this decline to ongoing industry challenges.
