Nigeria’s Poultry industry is expanding quickly and makes a substantial contribution to employment, income, and food security. Within ECOWAS, there is some informal trading, even though the business mainly caters to local markets. Public-private partnerships, government programs, and entrepreneurial endeavours are credited with its expansion. Poultry products historically originated in rural systems, but commercial farming has developed to satisfy strict quality standards, including feeding nearby KFC restaurants. This achievement indicates that the market is ready to expand internationally, as long as international Food Safety regulations—such as those set forth by the FAO/WHO and the WTO—are fulfilled.
A competitive advantage provided by Nigeria’s weak currency lowers production costs and increases the attractiveness of its poultry meat for Export markets. Adherence to international standards, smart investments, and efficient marketing are necessary for export success. In Nigeria, six cutting-edge meat processing facilities will be established thanks to a new USD 2.5 billion deal with JBS, a top meat processor. Nigeria’s position in the international meat Trade is to be improved, and meat supply networks are to be strengthened. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) can be implemented in Nigeria to mimic Thailand’s transformation of the chicken sector.
An estimated 165M birds produce over 650,000 metric tonnes of eggs.
Stronger veterinary and animal husbandry services, farm vertical integration, and giving the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) more authority to supply market data, enhance input accessibility, and deal with feed shortages are some of the recommendations. A successful implementation might open up export markets and promote the growth of the beef and poultry value chains more broadly. An estimated 165 million birds produce over 650,000 metric tonnes of eggs and 290,000 metric tonnes of poultry meat yearly, making the poultry business a major part of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Other than Thailand, a number of nations have effectively put plans into place to grow their poultry sectors. For example, by implementing cutting-edge breeding methods, investing in expansive production facilities, and upholding stringent sanitary standards to satisfy global market demands, Brazil has emerged as one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of chicken. Similar to this, vertical integration—in which businesses manage several production phases, from breeding to processing, guaranteeing quality control and cost-effectiveness—has helped the US produce chicken with notable efficiency.
Farmers are unable to grow their businesses due to lack of funding.
This business model is best shown by Tyson Foods, which processes around 1.88 billion broilers a year and supplies chicken to supermarkets and foodservice facilities across the globe. Funding shortages, Infrastructure constraints, and problems with regulatory enforcement are some of the difficulties Nigeria’s chicken sector faces. Consumer confidence may be damaged and health risks may arise as a result of inferior items entering the market due to lax regulatory compliance. To tackle this issue, the government may bolster oversight agencies, conduct routine examinations, and enforce adherence to food safety regulations. Post-harvest losses are increased and effective distribution is hampered by infrastructure constraints, such as insufficient storage and transportation facilities.
Investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, such as dependable transportation networks and cold chain systems, would improve the calibre of products and their marketability. Farmers are unable to grow their businesses and implement contemporary technologies due to a lack of funding. Creating creative financing methods and partnering with financial institutions to make credit more accessible and inexpensive can enable farmers to make investments in productivity-boosting projects. Better management techniques and superior breeds have been embraced by certain farmers, increasing production profitability and efficiency. Furthermore, partnerships with institutions that offer resources and training have made it possible for small-scale farmers to expand their businesses and reach wider markets.
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Among the many advantages of Nigeria’s partnership with JBS, the biggest meat processing company in the world, is the planned Construction of six state-of-the-art processing facilities that will increase output and improve product quality. Employment creation, economic expansion, and Nigeria’s positioning as a competitive participant in the world meat trade are all anticipated outcomes of this partnership. However, there can be difficulties in managing large-scale operations, making sure international standards are followed, and successfully including regional farmers into the supply chain.