Some poultry farmers in Karu, Nasarawa State, have decried the continuous hike in the cost of poultry feeds and appealed for urgent intervention by the government.

The farmers, who spoke with journalists in Karu on Saturday, appealed to the state and federal governments to intervene by partnering with poultry feed producers to reduce costs.

One of the farmers, also a distributor, Rosemary Samuel, said that the increase in poultry feeds and other inputs had affected the industry in diverse ways.

According to her, many farmers who cannot cope have closed their farms, while the workers are disengaged.

”Some of those who have lost their jobs are at risk of indulging in crime to make ends meet,” she said.

Sam Okwulu, a dealer in all kinds of poultry feeds, urged the government to provide a conducive environment for agricultural business.

“The government should desist from policy somersault, which makes business planning and forecasting frustrating,” Mr Okwulu said.

He urged the government to organise routine meetings and programmes for farmers and implement policies to ensure a ready market for products.

“There should be provisions for soft and non-interest loans for farmers and remove all bottlenecks to accessing government facilities,” he added.

Mr Okwulu, also a veterinary doctor, said the tendency to circumvent was likely and would portend danger to the birds and, consequently, to the public.

Another farmer, Abdullahi Aliyu, said that since the hike in the price of poultry feed in 2023, there has been a low turnout in the purchase of chickens.

“It is very difficult for me to sell 10 chickens a day; before now, I usually sold between 20 and 30 chickens per day.

“I understand why there is low patronage. If we buy feed at an affordable price, then we also sell chickens at a cheap rate. But now, the opposite is the case,” Mr Aliyu said.

Eucharia Enyi, also a poultry farmer, stated that the rate at which chicken feeds are expensive calls for urgent intervention.

She stated that over the years, prices of feed always rose during Christmas, and after the period, they would reduce, but this time, the price had doubled.

Ms Enyi noted with concern how the cost of fuel determined the price of commodities in the country, adding that the cost of poultry feeds determined the cost of chicken.

(NAN)