Maize: PAN promises against importation

Eggs and chicken

On maize importation, the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has pledged support to the policy that will ensure banning maize import and entrenched backward integration for wealth and job creation.

The President, PAN, Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim Mam made this promise when responding to a question asked by Seeds Producers Association of Nigeria (SEDAN) Mr. Richard Olafare on how sincere was the association to banning of maize importation during the questions and answers session at the 2017 National workshop on maize.

Mr. Olafare has alleged that the poultry association were among the people that normally mounted pressure on government for maize importation for reason best known to them saying “ I have a worry here, how sincere is poultry association to maize importation as PAN always lobby government for it”, and this gesture has always being negatively affecting farmers productivity back home.

Responding, the PAN president, Ibrahim Mam said the purpose of this gathering was to initiate a synergy on how to put an end to importation of maize, added the meeting was apt as his association has been planning to meet with MAAN for likely solution but however stressed that the support being asked from government was a temporary measure to rescue the pathetic situation the members were passing through at the moment for the safety of the sub sector and food security.

He explained that the price of maize at a point shot up from initial price of N27.000.00 to N360.000.00 per ton, pointed that even at this price there were scarcity as poultry farmers could not get to buy, and this has necessitated resort to government’s support for the rescue of the sub sector.

 “We are not in production for a long time and this has affected food supplies. Maize gone up to N360.000.00 per ton from the price of N27.000.00  and because of this we have no option than to seek for import so as to rescue PAN members. The measure is temporary, and we will not go back to importation” said PAN President.

He therefore pledged that PAN would work together with MAAN to ensure off take of maize production for feeds so as to encourage farmers into more accelerated cultivations that would meet the local needs and even export.

Further findings revealed that outbreak of various diseases, climate change challenges, inadequate capital and finance, poultry processing, storage facility and the increasing nature of poultry feeds jointly hinder the progress of poultry production in Nigeria.