The Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), which represents feed millers in the country, has lamented the impact of inadequate supply and increases in the cost of maize, soybeans, and other feed ingredients, while expressing concern at the possibility of a scarcity of eggs, chicken, and other livestock.
The President of FIPAN, Raymond Isidinaso, disclosed while speaking with the journalists that the soaring prices of eggs, chicken, fish, and other livestock products are largely attributed to the scarcity of maize and soy beans.
He explained that these two ingredients constitute a high percentage in the production of animal feeds and are essential to the process of producing animal feed from raw agricultural products for animals.
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The FIPAN president added that the shortage has resulted in an increase in the cost of formulating feed to meet specific animal nutrition requirements for different species of animals at different life stages.
Isidinaso therefore called on the government at all levels to come to the aid of the sector by releasing grains from the national grain reserve in order to alleviate the challenges faced by the industry and prevent scarcity of eggs, chicken, and other livestock products.
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He also pointed out the possibility of an increase in unemployment if the industry were to collapse while explaining that the sector contributes to high job provision, stating that the sector engaged approximately 45 percent of the nation’s labor force.
According to FIPAN’s boss, in order to mitigate the impending food crisis, there is a need to immediately halt the illegal exportation of soy bean seed and call for intervention in the importation of maize for commercial production of feeds for poultry, swine, fish, and other livestock industries.
