Farmers seek action on egg glut
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, has expressed concern over the persistent egg glut in the poultry sector, attributing it to the low purchasing power of consumers.
The association also urged the Lagos State Government to expedite work on the proposed Egg Powder Factory at Igbodu in Epe Local Government Area to help absorb excess egg production.
The Lagos PAN Chairman, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to Iyiola, the poultry sector is currently experiencing an oversupply of eggs due to declining consumer demand.
“We are experiencing an egg glut because of the economic situation in the country.
“Many parents can no longer afford to buy eggs for their families as they used to. At this period, most households are prioritising school fees and other essential expenses.
“Since children are the major consumers of eggs, reduced purchases by families have resulted in excess supply,” he said.
Iyiola said the establishment of a functional egg powder factory would help preserve excess production and reduce losses incurred by farmers.
“To address the recurring egg glut, we need government support in establishing a world-class egg powder factory.
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“Unfortunately, the project promised at Igbodu is progressing very slowly, while farmers continue to grapple with unsold eggs,” he said.
He noted that the limited shelf life of eggs exposed farmers to significant losses whenever demand dropped.
The PAN chairman said large-scale poultry farmers were bearing the brunt of the situation, as they produced far more eggs than small-scale operators.
“For small-scale farmers, eggs can be sold within a few days. However, farmers producing more than 1,000 eggs daily are forced to sell at reduced prices to move stock,” he said.
Iyiola, however, alleged that retailers and middlemen often maintained high market prices despite purchasing eggs from farmers at discounted rates.
“Even when retailers obtain eggs at lower prices, many still sell at previous rates to maximise profit.
“Some also demand credit from farmers who are already struggling to remain afloat,” he said.
He added that while the prices of some poultry inputs had begun to stabilise, the industry was still grappling with the shortage of Day-Old Chicks (DOCs).
“The major challenge apart from the current egg glut is the unavailability of DOCs, and farmers are still counting their losses because of it,” Iyiola said.
