Poultry farmers under the auspices of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, have attributed the reduced patronage of eggs to low purchasing power, greedy retailers, and low consumption.
The PAN Lagos State chapter chairman, Mojeed Iyiola, made this known when he examined the rising cost of eggs and purchasing power of consumers.
Iyiola noted that eggs remain the cheapest source of protein in the country, but blamed retailers and low purchasing power among the reasons for the decline in egg consumption.
“The reduced patronage of eggs in the poultry sector is not peculiar to farmers alone. Perhaps salaries are insufficient to meet the nutritional demands of families, or other expenses take priority over purchasing eggs.
Eggs are still the most affordable protein you can buy in Nigeria; they are not as expensive as people think. The price from poultry farms is less than N5,500 per crate. However, individual consumption patterns vary. The perception that eggs are expensive is simply fixed in people’s minds,” Iyiola pointed out.
He reiterated that, the greed of retailers and middlemen contributed to the low patronage due to their quest for increased profits.
“Retailers who buy eggs at N5,500 at the farm gate price are adding higher profits than normal for selfish gains. When retailers purchase a crate at N5,500, the maximum profit they should add is no more than N100 or N200. However, some retailers sell a crate for as high as N6,000 or N6,500, thus making more profit than the poultry farmers who do all the work.
“A profit of N1,000 per crate is excessive, so, the price increase or low patronage cannot be blamed on farmers. Also, the cost of raw materials for production should be considered, although it is still bearable,” the PAN chairman said.
Iyiola explained that the subsidy from the Lagos State government had helped farmers subsidise costs while it lasted. “The subvention we received from the Lagos State Government was temporary and helped us while it lasted, but it is currently on hold. We are still expecting palliatives from the government to further cushion production expenses in the sector,” he said.
On his part, a poultry processor, Joel Oduware said, the general economic downturn could be blamed for the hike in prices and low purchasing power globally.
“Generally, the low patronage of eggs is due to the economic downturn, low disposable income, and reduced purchasing power. Despite schools resuming, we expected an increase in egg consumption compared to when they were on recess, but consumption remains low, especially in some northern states and other regions.
“Basically, the general economic strain is the reason for low patronage. The global financial situation is also affecting our industry; people cannot afford to eat as comfortably as before. We could reduce the price of eggs somewhat instead of experiencing a constant glut in the sector. However, any price reduction must factor in production costs,” Oduware said.
