Poultry farmers in Lagos State have called on the state government to accelerate the completion of its proposed egg processing factory, saying the facility will help reduce financial losses caused by surplus eggs that remain unsold.
The appeal was made during the annual conference of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, held in Alausa, where stakeholders also discussed modern production techniques aimed at improving efficiency, productivity and profitability in the poultry industry.
The Chairman of PAN, Lagos State chapter, Mojeed Iyiola, identified weak market demand as one of the major challenges confronting poultry farmers, revealing that some farms are forced to dispose of large quantities of eggs daily because of inadequate demand.
According to him, the losses run into millions of naira, with hundreds of eggs reportedly discarded across several farms.
Iyiola said the proposed egg powder processing factory would provide an alternative market for surplus production by converting excess eggs into products with longer shelf lives that could be sold locally and eventually exported.
He acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State Government towards supporting poultry farmers, particularly its commitment to establishing the processing facility, but urged the government to ensure its speedy completion and commencement of operations.
He said the factory would help farmers reduce wastage, protect their investments and create additional opportunities for value addition within the poultry value chain.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Flocking to Growth: Transforming Nigeria’s Poultry Industry with Innovation and Investment,” Iyiola said the event was designed to expose farmers to emerging technologies and developments shaping the global poultry industry.
He urged poultry producers to move away from outdated production methods and adopt modern technologies capable of reducing labour costs, improving efficiency and increasing profitability.
According to him, PAN Lagos has also introduced training programmes in collaboration with experts from tertiary institutions to equip members with practical skills and technical knowledge required to compete effectively in the global poultry industry.
Also speaking, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunwole, Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition, Poultry Science, Food and Food Safety at the University of Ibadan, advised farmers to adopt feeding practices that correspond with the nutritional requirements of modern poultry breeds.
Ogunwole observed that some producers still rely on outdated feeding information, stressing that advances in poultry breeding require corresponding improvements in nutrition and feed management.
He urged farmers to provide quality feed based on current scientific recommendations, noting that adherence to international feeding standards could improve bird performance and overall farm productivity.
The Director of Extension Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Olushola Egbota, also encouraged poultry farmers to make greater use of available agricultural extension services.
Egbota said the ministry’s Extension Services office at Oko Oba, Agege, remains available to provide farmers with technical advice, relevant information and guidance to improve their operations.
She urged poultry producers to take advantage of the services rather than relying solely on government financial assistance.
The stakeholders stressed that faster completion of the egg processing facility, combined with improved production practices, technology adoption and stronger extension support, could help reduce egg wastage, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen Lagos State’s poultry value chain.
