The federal ministry of agriculture and food security, on Tuesday, distributed 1,600 bags of poultry feeds, empty crates transportation of birds and cash to 200 poultry farmers in Oyo State.

The distribution is part of palliatives to assist poultry farmers affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Oyo state.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the coordinator, federal ministry of agriculture and food security in Oyo state, Florence Kakulu, said the distribution of the palliatives was to assist selected poultry farmers in Oyo state.

Mrs Kakulu said it would mitigate the impact of the losses experienced by poultry farmers in the state during the 2022 flood that ravaged parts of Nigeria.

She expressed the minister’s sympathy with the affected poultry farmers who might have lost their chickens and other products during the incident.

“This onerous gesture of distribution of the palliatives today is predicated on government’s sincere design to mitigate the effects of the flood in this little way.

“For clarity, each poultry farmer will go home with eight bags of poultry feeds, one bird crate and a token for logistics,” Mrs Kakulu said.

She said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would usher in better times for farmers due to his pledge to support agriculture holistically.

Oyo State chairman of poultry association of Nigeria (PAN), Omidokun Oyekunle, appreciated the ministry for the gesture.

Mr Oyekunle said that poultry farmers in the state and Nigeria in general were suffering due to a shortage of maize which had resulted in the closing of most poultry farmers’ businesses.

He called on the federal government to assist the poultry farmers by releasing the grains in the strategic reserve to cushion the effect of maize shortage and reduce the high cost.

The Oyo state commissioner for agriculture, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, commended the poultry farmers for contributing to the GDP of the state and creating employment.

Mr Olaleye, represented by the ministry’s director of animal husbandry services, urged the beneficiaries of the palliatives to make judicious use of the items.

(NAN)