Kano poultry farmers adopt new measures to beat high cost of feed

Poultry farmers in Kano State have adopted a new cooperative strategy with smallholder farmers to manage rising feed costs. Farmers now sell day-old chicks to smallholders, who raise them for two to three weeks before selling them back to complete the production cycle. This cost-sharing method has helped keep many businesses afloat amid skyrocketing feed prices. Local farmers are also switching to breeding local chickens, which are cheaper to raise and less risky despite taking longer to mature. The new approach has helped some farmers revive their businesses in response to widespread farm closures.
Source: DailyTrust

Our Review
The new synergy between poultry farmers and smallholder farmers in Kano State is a smart response to the rising costs of poultry feed and other inputs. By sharing the responsibility of raising chicks, both parties can reduce their operational costs, making the poultry sector more sustainable. The practice, where hatcheries sell day-old chicks to smallholders and later buy them back for the remainder of the production cycle, exemplifies innovation within the industry.
This cooperation not only ensures that smallholder farmers remain active contributors to the poultry value chain but also offers hatchery owners a way to maintain production volumes. Given the rising costs—such as feed prices, which have more than doubled in a year—this method could be a lifeline for poultry farmers who might otherwise close their farms.
The adoption of local chicken breeds by farmers like Halliru Bashir also signals a shift toward more cost-effective farming models, despite the longer maturity time. This trend could help sustain poultry production in Nigeria by lowering feed costs and risks, further stabilizing the sector.