Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Edo State Government, in collaboration with Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited and Heifer International, has announced that 500,000 smallholder poultry farmers would be empowered by 2030 through improved poultry production practices.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Heifer supported 10,000 per day Amo Farm Poultry Processing Plant, located at Obayantor, Ikpoba-Okha Local Area of Edo State.
Obaseki said that the state would harness its potentials in poultry production to diversify the economy and eliminate unemployment in the state.
“What you are seeing here today is revolutionary because we have deliberately worked on this for the last five to six years.
“It has always been our dream to make sure that we return Edo State to its place of pride in agriculture in this country.
“Today, we are putting a processing facility that will hatch chickens so that farmers will come and buy; they will support them with feeds, veterinary products.
“And once they have grown their chickens, they will buy back from the farmers and the farmers can go on with their normal jobs with this as a side business.
“Farmers no longer have to wait for Christmas or Easter to sell their chickens because there is already an existing market they can sell to,” Obaseki said.
Speaking, the Country Director, Heifer International, Mr. Rufus Idris, stated that the partnership would support 200,000 farmers by 2025 and 500,000 farmers by 2030.
Idris said that farmers would engage in the production of broiler and broiler chicken while a private sector partner, Amo Farm would guarantee sustainable off-take of the chickens produced by the farmers.
He explained that the initiative would impact about 500,000 farmers, create more than 850 jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities for youths and women.
“This initiative will increase farmers access to access to innovative finance, infrastructure and innovation.
“Under this partnership, Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited is to establish a standard poultry processing plant, starting with a 10,000 chicken per day capacity.
“Edo is known for its large number of smallholder poultry farmers constrained by poor market access for chickens produced due to absence of structured market and off-taker in the state.
“Nigeria consumes about 1.5 million tons of chicken annually but only 30 percent of that is produced locally.
“Nigeria’s poultry sector, a $4.2 billion industry, is witnessing a rise in demand for poultry meat and egg driven by increasing population and urbanization,” he said.
According to him, Edo State Government’s vision is to make the state a poultry hub that produces and processes five million chickens per week.
“To create business and employment opportunities for its citizens, while helping the nation address its food security challenges,” he added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director Amo Farms, Ayoola Oduntan said negotiation for the plant had been on since 2017.
Oduntan, who was represented by Mr. Alaba Yunusa, promised to make the poultry processing plant the largest in Nigeria.
