IMPACTS OF HIGH COST OF FEED ON THE PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF BROILER BIRDS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Poultry farming has been one of the lucrative businesses common among many people in Northern Nigeria. Apart from those involved in poultry farming for egg production, there are those engaged in broiler farming for meat production. This branch of poultry farming has been lucrative and has provided cash-generating opportunities for hundreds of thousands of male and female farmers who leverage its potential to build sustainable business empires. The cost of feed in the broiler poultry business is, however, one of the most pressing challenges causing hundreds of farmers across the North to shut down their farms. This specific challenge is driven by the scarcity of ingredients used in feed production, insecurity resulting from the activities of armed bandits, desertification affecting the land used for producing farm products like maize and soybeans, and the increased cost of transportation due to the removal of the fuel subsidies. This development has now created uncertainty in the market, increased the cost of broilers for end-users, and led to a general crisis in the production, marketing, and distribution of broiler birds in the Northern region of the country. This paper aimed to evaluate the connection between the high cost of feed and the distribution of broiler birds, as well as to assess the general market visibility and opportunities in the Northern region. The paper adopted a mixed research methodology, combining a literature review and field interviews, with the goal of integrating the data collected from the field with the literature to arrive at findings that may be useful for future planning.