NIGERIA - The Poultry Association of Nigeria
has said the unrestricted trans-border trade among poultry farmers in West
Africa will bring N58bn to Nigeria.
According to Punch, PAN Secretary, John
Olateru, said the initiative, which was facilitated by the United State Agency
for International Development, would also help poultry farmers in the
sub-region to attract foreign investments.
Mr Olateru spoke in Lagos at a regional workshop on Hatchery Certification Standards for West Africa.
He said, “Many international poultry farmers had indicated interest to invest in the industry to complement the existing investments.
“We will take advantage of the opportunity of this initiative to create new markets and increase our productivity.”
He added that Nigeria with over 160 million people would soon boost its human capital development indices with the full implementation of the initiative.
He said the decision of USAID’s to bring farmers together would galvanise the industry.
USAID representative, Suzanne Ngo-Eyok, said the agency had been working to develop hatcheries, laboratories and veterinary services in eight west African countries to boost regional poultry trade and check bird flu.
The countries are Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
She said, “Since the Avian Influenza outbreak in 2007, three countries have put in measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Now that Avian Influenza has disappeared in so many countries, those restrictions are still in place.”
She said USAID was looking at laboratory and veterinary services and urged operators to ensure that international sanitary code of conduct for hatchery were strictly adhered to.
Ms Ngo-Eyok said, “At the moment, Nigeria is at an advantage because poultry supply in other countries of the region is low. In Benin, they have their day old chick coming from Belgium, even eggs to hatch their hatcheries come from Belgium Netherlands and Brazil, when they could come and get them from Nigeria.
“That is why USAID has decided to support this initiative to bring all the regional stakeholders together and reintroduce trust to find a solution and a way to open up trade in West Africa.”
Mr Olateru spoke in Lagos at a regional workshop on Hatchery Certification Standards for West Africa.
He said, “Many international poultry farmers had indicated interest to invest in the industry to complement the existing investments.
“We will take advantage of the opportunity of this initiative to create new markets and increase our productivity.”
He added that Nigeria with over 160 million people would soon boost its human capital development indices with the full implementation of the initiative.
He said the decision of USAID’s to bring farmers together would galvanise the industry.
USAID representative, Suzanne Ngo-Eyok, said the agency had been working to develop hatcheries, laboratories and veterinary services in eight west African countries to boost regional poultry trade and check bird flu.
The countries are Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
She said, “Since the Avian Influenza outbreak in 2007, three countries have put in measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Now that Avian Influenza has disappeared in so many countries, those restrictions are still in place.”
She said USAID was looking at laboratory and veterinary services and urged operators to ensure that international sanitary code of conduct for hatchery were strictly adhered to.
Ms Ngo-Eyok said, “At the moment, Nigeria is at an advantage because poultry supply in other countries of the region is low. In Benin, they have their day old chick coming from Belgium, even eggs to hatch their hatcheries come from Belgium Netherlands and Brazil, when they could come and get them from Nigeria.
“That is why USAID has decided to support this initiative to bring all the regional stakeholders together and reintroduce trust to find a solution and a way to open up trade in West Africa.”
ThePoultrySite News Desk
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