Many poultry farmers are currently facing challenges related to low egg consumption as a result of customers’ decreasing purchasing power and the dearth of government schemes like the school feeding programme and other initiatives.
Since most farms lack the cold chain facilities to keep eggs for an extended period of time, the current heat wave has made matters worse. As a result, many farmers are selling their eggs below their cost of production to avoid suffering significant losses.
Depending on the size of the eggs, a crate of eggs in Abuja currently costs between N5,000 and N6,500 at retail stores. However, because demand is low and households find it difficult to manage their diminishing spending power due to the nation’s inflation, many stores have an abundance of eggs unsold.
Two weeks ago, prices in Jos, a significant production centre in the north central region, were as low as N3,900 to N4,000. However, last week, they have slightly increased to between N4,200 and N4,300.
On one of the farmers’ social media platforms, Muhammad Bello Ibrahim, on his handle could not hide his displeasure with the current situation.
“Those in the egg business are currently facing low patronage despite lower prices. The eggs are piling up in a period of very hot weather.
“In the past, some states were encouraged to buy the eggs for school feeding, hospitals, and even correctional centres. That was pleasing to the farmers across the country. But now, things are different. Every farmer is left alone. The losses are building up,” the farmer said.
Despite decreasing pricing, the egg industry in Plateau State is currently experiencing poor patronage, and the egg collections are mounting up, causing glut.
This is also taking place during a time when the state is experiencing uncommon heat, even in Jos, the state capital, which is thought to be the coolest region in the country and rarely experiences extremely hot weather.
Speaking to Daily Trust on the current situation in the State, a poultry farmer, Nanji Gambo-Oke, said the egg production situation in Plateau is actually in a terrible shape.
Gambo-Oke who is also the immediate past Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Poultry Farmers Association in Plateau State said the situation is made worse because egg consumption on the Plateau is among the lowest in the country.
He noted that 80% of eggs produced in the state are being sold to neighbouring states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“First, we need to understand that Plateau residents are not significant consumers of eggs, leading to 80% of production being exported to neighbouring states. This creates a unique challenge.
“Second, the Plateau farmers are small-scale farmers scattered across the state and they lack information, therefore making them vulnerable to exploitation by off-takers, who offer low prices.
“And also, many farmers in Plateau State view egg production as a side hustle, and this I would say limits their financial capacity to withstand market fluctuations and pressure from off-takers. This can lead to desperate sales at unfavourable prices,” she said.
The former PRO also highlighted the complexities of the egg production industry in the state and the need for support, stressing that this year’s heat experience in Plateau State has been particularly severe, and that it caught the farmers off guard.
“In the past, some states were encouraged to buy the eggs for school feeding, hospitals, and even correctional centres. That was pleasing to the farmers across the country. But now, things are different. Every farmer is left alone. The losses are building up,” the farmer said.
Speaking to journalists on the current situation in Plateau State, a poultry farmer, Nanji Gambo-Oke, said the egg production situation in Plateau is actually in a terrible shape.
The former PRO also highlighted the complexities of the egg production industry in the state and the need for support, stressing that this year’s heat experience in Plateau State has been particularly severe, and that it caught the farmers off guard.
According to her, the heat exposed the farmers’ lack of preparedness and expertise in managing heat stress in laying birds, unlike other states that are used to such extreme heat.
“In my years of farming in Plateau State, I haven’t experienced such heat, and the consequences I experience are enormous. I suffered low production myself, a surge in peewee eggs and increased mortality rates.
“Many farmers are struggling to cope, and it’s likely that we have had to rely on spiritual resilience to persevere. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge the state has also never benefitted or would I say have been absent from NGO-sponsored school feeding programmes that should have helped. Also, the state government’s response to the current glut had always been slow, and this might be hindered by bureaucratic red tape.
