"Poultry Farmers Claim Sharp Practices Are Driving Them Out of Business"

 Poultry farming, despite its potential, is becoming increasingly difficult for many farmers due to a series of challenges, including lack of government support, sharp practices by middlemen, and theft by farm attendants. 

Umugbe Augustine, a poultry farmer based off Old Ahor Road, Benin City, shared his frustrations with *Daily Trust*, revealing that the theft of eggs and birds by farm workers is severely impacting his production. "Our farm attendants steal eggs and birds because they are constantly on the farm, which affects our productivity," he explained.

Augustine also highlighted the difficulty of accessing financial support, noting that while the government allocates billions of naira for agriculture, these funds rarely reach grassroots farmers. "We face enormous challenges securing loans from both commercial and microfinance banks due to high interest rates and stringent collateral requirements. Even when we applied to the Bank of Agriculture for N10 million for our group, it took eight months for the loan to be approved, but the funds have yet to be released," he lamented.

With around 1,000 broilers on his farm, Augustine explained that while taking care of the birds isn’t particularly difficult for him, other factors such as the high cost of feed and insecurity continue to pose significant challenges. "Ensuring the health of my birds is key to success in poultry farming. Serious mortality rates would force us out of business," he said. He also urged the government to address the growing insecurity that has made it difficult for farmers to expand operations into rural areas.

Mrs. Agege Ejime, owner of Two Sisters Poultry Farm, expressed similar concerns, noting that poultry farming has become increasingly unprofitable. "The middlemen come, take the birds to market on credit, and we end up chasing them for payment. In some cases, they lower the agreed price, citing market fluctuations," she explained. The rising cost of feed is also a serious concern, with a single bag of top feed costing N19,000, and the farm using up to three and a half bags per day to feed its over 1,000 layers.

Kingsley Imasuen, Chairman of the Uhunwonde Poultry Farmers Association, explained that while poultry farming can be lucrative, sharp practices by middlemen are undermining the industry. He pointed out that day-old birds, which come from Ibadan, are often mixed with cockerels or crossbreeds, leading to losses. He also complained of discrepancies in feed quality, with some companies selling bags that weigh less than advertised, further straining the farmers’ resources.

Isiah David, who owns Jansolid Poultry Farm in Urora, emphasized that despite the many hurdles, poultry farming can still be rewarding for those who can overcome the financial and input challenges. "Access to long-term loans is crucial for expanding our production, as short-term loans do not offer enough time to scale operations before repayment begins," he said.

Mrs. Overy Juliana Alake, whose farm is located in Eyaen, pointed out the lack of hatchery farms in Edo State as another significant issue. "Many of us cannot afford to buy birds directly from hatcheries outside the state, so we rely on middlemen who often deliver the wrong birds or mix breeds, which harms our business," she said.

Aziegbe Pius, another poultry farmer, described the poultry market as unpredictable, noting that the hard economic climate has made it difficult to secure buyers. "Despite the challenges, we remain determined to stay in business and support our families," he said, while also lamenting the lack of technical assistance from extension officers. "Most of us rely on private veterinary doctors for support," he added.

Farmers across the state are united in their call for improved government support, access to affordable loans, and better regulation to tackle sharp practices within the industry. Without these changes, many fear that the poultry farming business will continue to face decline.