From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
There is increase in the consumption of chicken meat across the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Chicken meat is the end product from large scale breeding of birds(chicks).
Research findings shows that in the past two decades or thereabout, many families are imbibng the habit of eating chicken as a substitute to cow meat, goat meat, fish etc in their daily meals, a far departure from when it was locally bred and eaten as a ceremonial meal.
Reasons abound why many families are changing over to Chicken meat on daily basis. Medical experts and Nutritionists are advising adults who attain 40 years of age and above to reduce intake of red meat usually obtained from cow,I goats and it’s species.
For the young and under aged, Chicken is considered as a source of protein.
The above factor alone shot up large scale breeding and production of chicken for commercial purposes and endeared a value chain that cuts across almost every aspect of the economy, providing gainful employment and business opportunities for thousands of Nigerans.
In the South East zone,the traditional system of breeding fowls and hens has become incapacitated in satisfying the growing demand for chicken meat coupled with the fact that the local birds takes more than six months to mature for consumption unlike the hatched birds which matures for consumption between three and four months.
The modern hatchery system which uses artificial incubators boosts large scale production of ‘Day -Old Chicks’which is the Arrowhead of the Poultry industry.
That to a large extent facilitated a rise in the value chain of Poultry industry in the South East zone for more than two decades now.
The National President,Poultry Association of Nigera (PAN),Ichie Sunday Ezeobiora buttresed that South East zone takes after the South West zone in the production and consumption of Poultry products especially,
Chicken meat.
The fears that the success story attained in this direction may collapse as a result of the challenges facing the industry at the moment, informed the reason of a two -day ‘Eastern International Poultry Summit 2926,held on September 9th and September 10th in Enugu, with theme,” From Farm to Market :-Scaling Nigeria’s Poultry Trade and Investment”.
Many of the Poultry farmers who spoke during the Scientific session raised alarm how lack of functional hatcheries in the South East zone are delimiting their operations and expresssed fears of the growing consequences.
It was gathered that most Poultry Farmers in the South East zone currently struggle for supplies of Day- Old Chicks from towns in Western Nigeria and Shagamu in Lagos.
The Commissioner for Livestock in Imo state, Prof.Anthony C Mgbeahuruike,in his address at the event, concurred that he is aware of the pains of Poultry farmers in most state,ranging from the risks they undertake in sourcing day old birds from Western Nigeria, the undue levies along the route and alleged extortion from alleged government agencies.
He advocated that Poultry farmers should be given a waiver from paying certain taxs until thr to enable them survive and sustain production..
It was gathered that a park of a Day Old Chicks,containing about 5O birds sells between N92,000 and N100,000 naira in different markets in Enugu state.
The cost of acquiring a day old chick estimated at N2,000 per bird at the long run is transmitted into the selling price to the final consumers.
Further checks revealed that the only functional Hatchery in Enugu state is obtained at Sunchi farms, located at Emene Indistrual layout,Enugu.
The hatchery which is privately owned is producing day Old Chicks far below the demand of Poultry farmers in Enugu metropolis and there’s no way it can satisfy the demand of the entire Poultry farmers in the state.
The direct consequence of lack of Hatchery in the South East zone is the rising cost of the end product.
The market price of a healthy chicken between four and five months old is between N10,000 and N15,OOO in most local markets.
The alternative to the demand Chicken meat seems not available to the poor families who can no longer buy a full chicken. To that extent, there are now butchers who deal in slaughtering chikens and selling them in parts to customers.
The Enugu International Poultry Summit 2026, provided a common ground for Poultry Farmers and others involved in the industry to brainstorm pathways of survival for the industry.
The Summit defined high cost of feeds, limited access to finance and weak cold- chain logistics, etc, as other factors militating against the flourishing of the industry in the present times.
The National Vice President,PAN,Sir Izuolisa Onu,in his opening address, described the Poultry Industry as a value chain that employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerans and ensures food security while growing the Agro-. Gross Domestic Product.
He stated,”The Poultry Industry remains one of the fastest pathways to food security,job creation and wealth generation in our nation. Yet we all know the gaps, the high cost of feed and day old chicks, weak cold -chain logistics, limited access to finance and market linkages that fail to connect the farmer to the consumer”.
The two day Enugu International Poultry Summit 2026, also featured exhibition of poultry feeds and drugs by various companies involved in the value chain, as well as presentations on Capacity building and training for beginners.
The National President,PAN, who toured various stands at Amadeo event center halls, expressed gratitude to Exhibitors who came from various parts of the country, assuring that there will be another edition of the summit in 2027 .He said the Summit provided opportunity for stakeholders to brainstorm on best ways of surmounting the challenges confronting the Poultry Industry in Nigeria, to enhance National economy.
More than 30 companies involved in the Poultry Industry attended the Summit.
They include Sunchi Farms Ltd, Emene Enugu, Havifarms Ltd, Biacom Agro Nig.Ltd, Interchem feed and feed additives, Sunseed Nig.Ltd, Pinga Agro Investment Ltd,Oji River, Enugu state,among others.
End.
