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| poultry |
In view of
the almost yearly outbreak of Avian Influenza across the states of the
federation in Nigeria, the Federal government through her Minister of
Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has ordered that all the poultry owners through
the country must be registered for proper monitoring of bird flu disease.
This
position will be part of the policies direction of the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) for the year 2016 along some many
others that were approved by the Agricultural Council Meeting headed by the
Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh together with all the commissioners of the sector
from all the states of the federation at Kano last week.
The
occurrence of the avian influenza had claimed billion of naira from many
poultry farmers in the last one decade with government paying millions as
compensation to reduce incidence of losses.
Agriculture
Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh giving directive to all the states’ commissioners
said this decision of owners’ registration was inevitable in order to save
chickens production in the country from bird flu saying the home school feeding
programme of the government would be hampered if there were shortage of eggs.
According to
the minister “Every poultry farm must be registered in all states, and they
must inform the Federal ministry of Agriculture. All of this must be strictly
controlled. There will be control team that will be supported with transport.
We have everything to checkmate this disease so as to ensure egg availability
for the home school feeding programme of the Government. We must do all this
check also importation of eggs and chicken into the country. The circular will
soon be sent to you for immediate action. Let this message be conveyed to
farmers. Especially in the South West, let there be more awareness to better
environment to avoid import of eggs”
Although there
was an observation made that the checkpoint of the movement control of chickens
should not be turned to revenue extortion points so as to avoid giving official
practitioners a bad image while poultry environment must be kept in clean
manner.
Chief Ogbeh however
ordered that the names of all the poultry owners in the federation must be well
complied in the next forty five days following the specified process of
registration.
In a
memorandum submitted at the National Council on Agriculture held at Kano this
month, the poultry association of Nigeria was demanding an action plan and road
map for a sustainable development of the sub sector based on its revenue
contribution the nation’s economy.
The
memorandum stated that the current economic worth of the poultry chicken and
meat production stands at USD 8 billion
with Nigeria rated as fifth
production nation in Africa contributing 25% of the agricultural gross domestic
product (AGDP) despite the high level of smuggling of frozen products into the
country.
It was also
observed that government has not really sustained the policy of this sub sector
despite various programme and policy in the past adding that “ the industry is
not receiving the adequate attention and protection it deserves on the issues
of control by the farmers”
The
association however recommended the following for the immediate action of the
government
·
That the
federal government with all sincerity of purpose and action put up strong
measure to immediately control, contain and bring to a halt the further
decimation of the poultry industry by avian Influenza. In just 12 months (
January 2015-January 2016), the industry has lost over 2.7 million birds
principally to the outbreak of Avian Influenza as compared to less than 1.5
million in three years (2006-2009) when we had the first outbreak of avian
influenza. The economic, employment and social loss of the above phenomenon is
enormous.
·
That the
Federal Government should, with deliberate actions intervene to assist poultry
farmers to cushion the effect of high cost of production, processing and
logistics. The poultry farmers should not be left to bear the brunt and shock
of the industry. Incentives to reduce cost of inputs such as maize, soyabeans
and micro ingredients should be introduced so as to triple existing production
capacities and then create wealth and employment for Nigerians.
·
That the
Federal Government should invest heavily on active surveillance to be able to
track the virus rather than the virus always ahead of the critical
professionals in veterinary and animal fields. Rather than running helter
shelter when the industry is being ravaged by disease; there is the urgent need
to keep the virus in check constantly. Investments in both passive and inactive
surveillance as well as holistic measure adoption is the only sure method to
keep animals and health diseases at far arm’ s length
·
For a quick win
poultry production transformation, issue of single digit interest rate on
agricultural lending of not more than 5% (five percent) including labour should
be engaged as a national policy. Commercial banks should be mandated to lend to
agriculture at not more than 5% and on a long term basis for maximum output and
return on investments.
·
That the local
poultry industry should be protected by ways and measures of maintaining and
sustaining the fiscal policy of poultry and poultry products on the import
prohibition list. Notwithstanding the high level of poultry products smuggling
through the Republic of Benin, no amount of international pressure should make
Nigeria lift the ban on importation of poultry products. In the above direction
therefore, the Nigeria Custom Service and the Consumers Protection Council (NCS
& CPC) should be mandated to step up their anti- smuggling crusade, and
wipe out all smuggled poultry products out of the Nigerian markets.
·
That the
Federal Government should once more look into the Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPA) with Europe and the Common External Tariff (CET) already in
use with a view to re viewing the CET and EPA in such a way that Nigeria and
the sub-region will not be colonized for the sustenance of the European
economy.
·
The issue of
multiple taxation on agricultural commodities and products of the poultry
industry by the various states Internal Revenue Boards or Agencies be
critically looked into by the Joint same vein, poultry products and critical
inputs items such as maize, Soya, Groundnut meals and offals should be exempted
from the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) since they fall under “food products
Tax Board with the possibility of abolishing all illegal revenue collection
agencies or taskforce. The Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Inland
Revenue Service (FIRS) have great roles to play in this matter.
·
In the same vein,
poultry products and critical input items such as Maize, Soya, Groundnut meals
and offals should exempted from the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) since they
fall under “Food Products”
·
That there
should be a synergy and fiscal incentive strengthening for strong consultation
and collaboration among the various organs and agencies of Government and
critical stakeholders towards a robust planning, decision making and
implementation of government actions. The existing policy ambiguities that tend
to create acrimonies among government agencies and the industry operators need
to be smoothened and strengthened.
·
That the
Federal Government should continue to pay compensation to farmers whose farms
are affected by the outbreak of Avian Influenza as it has been the practice all
over the world. Current outstanding compensation to farmers should be paid to
alleviate the losses and agony of farmers affected by the outbreak.
·
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