As part of its efforts to transform the country’s livestock industry, the Federal Government has established a cottage poultry processing facility in Dei Dei, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, inaugurated the facility at the livestock international market in Dei Dei, Abuja.
According to Abubakar, the purpose of establishing the processing facility within Die Dei Market was to bring best practices closer to the beneficiaries and the market community as a whole.
According to the minister, the facility was also established to serve as a model for others to follow.
He stated that the numerous and diverse potentials within the poultry value chain had provided ample opportunities and raw materials for small, medium, and large scale businesses in Nigeria to thrive.
He stated that this would result in the creation of numerous jobs, an increase in means of livelihood, and an improvement in household nutrition.
According to the FAO (2019), Nigeria is the largest annual egg producer, with the second largest chicken population in Africa, totaling approximately 180 million birds. Approximately 44% are raised in extensive systems, 33% in semi-intensive systems, and 23% in intensive systems.
“At the moment, over 85 million Nigerians are involved in one form or another of poultry business, making intervention in the poultry sector imperative for job creation and income generation for farmers, processors, and marketers, as well as for the country,” he said.
The minister hoped that the facility would be used to train and empower other poultry processors both within and outside of the Dei Dei market.
He thanked the FCT Administration for providing the project with land and an enabling environment, and he urged continued collaboration to ensure its long-term viability.
“We look forward to more projects and stronger collaboration for Nigerians’ benefit,” he said.
Rep. Munir Dan-Agundi (APC Kano), Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, stated that the facility would provide many opportunities for poultry providers to process and sell to the public in a sanitary environment.
Earlier, Mrs Winnie Solarin, Director, Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture, stated that the poultry cottage was established to provide best practices in poultry processing and storage.
Solarin went on to say that similar poultry cottages had been replicated in other parts of the country.