Paths of development for the poultry industry in Nigeria: expert assessments and priority areas

During the summit organized by the Lagos State branch of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), participants discussed opportunities to accelerate the sector's growth. According to Professor Olutayo Adeyemi, the Southwest Nigeria region is a key hub for poultry production in West Africa. To fully unlock the industry's potential, the expert believes it is necessary to establish close cooperation between representatives of science, farming enterprises, regulatory bodies, investors, and the public sector.

Among the most promising areas for investment identified were the implementation of precision feed production, the development of genetics and breeding, the improvement of broiler rearing processes, as well as the creation of modern slaughterhouses and the development of logistics chains using refrigeration equipment. It was noted that Nigeria is currently facing a shortage of product processing facilities.

In his report, Dr. Mobolaji Alabi pointed out the contribution of agriculture to Nigeria's GDP, which amounted to 23.1 percent in the first quarter of the current year. Despite the fact that the country's poultry population is estimated at 300 million birds, this volume is insufficient to meet the projected demand. As a measure to increase productivity and reduce the level of antimicrobial resistance, the expert recommended that farmers adopt precision management methods, which imply careful control over feed consumption, bird weight, and medication dosage.