Government has been advised to focus on boosting food production through mechanized agriculture this year rather than on unnecessary expenses. This advice was given by the newly elected Chairman of the Poultry Association of Ogun State, (PANOG), Yinka Lawal who blamed those he labeled as “emergency backyard poultry farmers” and middlemen for the high prices of chicken sold during the yuletide for between N25, 000 and N30,000.
Lawal said, “To solve the food insecurity crisis the country currently grapples with, governments at all levels must address the problem of insecurity. People must feel secure to go about their farming business.
“Secondly, let the government embrace mechanised farming, let them stop buying SUVs but tractors, and harvesters that can be used to clear our vast arable and fertile land, especially in the South West. Palliatives can never help us, only mechanized farming will save us from the food crisis.
“For instance, if I am to be modest, the poultry farmers in Ogun State use at least 100 trailers load of maize in a month, just imagine the economy around that supposing the maize is grown in the state.
“We have the land and that is why we are urging for government support, it is something we can do with the right support. This is the route the government at all levels should follow in the year 2025.”
“As members of the poultry association, there are some benefits that we enjoy, we can decide to buy our feeds in bulk and then sell at a cheaper price to our members than what is obtainable in the market.
“We have lots of information that can help cut down on our cost of production which non-members do not have, so, to solve this challenge.
“We urge these farmers to join our association to enjoy these benefits and be able to produce and sell at a very competitive price without unnecessarily putting pressure on the members of the public.”
