Poultry farmers in Kano State have urged the government to support them with subsidised  poultry feeds and medication to cushion the rising cost of production which remains a major challenge in the business.

They made the call in separate interviews  on Tuesday in Kano.

One of them, Aminu Nabegu, said the prices of poultry feeds had increased significantly, a development he noted led to the raising of production costs putting pressure on farmers.

He said a bag of Ultima Plus, previously sold for N20,000, now cost N23,000, while Ultima had increased from N18,000 to N21,000.

He added that Chikun feed rose from N16,500 to N18,000, while Hybrid feed increased from N12,000 to N14,200.

According to him, the price of day-old chicks has also risen from between N500 and N700 to about N2,000.

Mr Nabegu said the high cost of chicks and feed made poultry farming expensive.

He however said farmers could still make some profit by selling mature birds at higher prices.

He explained that the high cost of starting the business discouraged new entrants, leaving existing farmers to meet market demand.

Despite the challenges, he said, poultry farming remained his main source of livelihood, adding that he appreciated whatever profit he made, no matter how small.

Mr Nabegu identified the approaching harmattan season as another challenge, explaining that farmers needed electric bulbs or lanterns to provide warmth and lighting for their birds.

He said adequate lighting enabled the birds to see their surroundings, feed and drink water at night, while a warm environment helped them remain healthy and grow properly.

He urged the government to give priority to the experienced poultry farmers when providing support, saying they were better positioned to utilise the assistance effectively.

According to him, raising 100 day-old chicks to table size could require between 13 and 14 bags of feed, depending on their feeding and management.

A nother poultry farmer, Ruth Johnson, said she engaged in poultry farming because she enjoyed keeping birds, describing it as a hobby.

She said production costs had increased considerably compared with the previous year, particularly the costs of purchasing day-old chicks, feed and medication.

Despite the rising expenses, Ms Johnson said she remained grateful for every profit she made, whether large or small.

Also, Amos Patrick, said the high cost of production had not stopped him from continuing the business, though he had to manage his resources carefully.

He said that he fed his birds according to his financial capacity and sold them to customers based on their individual preferences.

Mr Patrick explained that some customers preferred five-week-old birds, while others requested birds aged six, seven or eight weeks.

He said he raises and sells the birds according to customers’ demands, a practice he noted enabled him to cater for different preferences in the market.

The farmers called for measures to reduce the cost of essential poultry inputs, saying improved access to affordable feed and medication would help sustain their businesses.

(NAN)