The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika, Zaria, is set to enhance Nigeria’s poultry sector with the rollout of 17,000 to 20,000 day-old chicks of ShikaBrown parent stock layers during the 2024/2025 hatching season. This initiative, which began in February 2024, aligns with NAPRI’s broader mandate of genetic improvement of livestock breeds across Nigeria and the African continent.
The ShikaBrown breed, a locally developed layer strain by NAPRI, has demonstrated strong productivity, laying an average of 280 to 300 eggs per production cycle. According to a statement by Awwal Musa, Director of the Directorate of Public Affairs at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the first batch of hatchlings recorded a promising 75% hatchability rate, marking a positive start to the season.
To ensure widespread adoption, NAPRI is working with more than five organisations as uptakers of the ShikaBrown parent stock. These partnerships aim to further propagate and distribute the commercial layer breed to farmers, reinforcing the local poultry value chain. Despite economic constraints, including rising diesel and drug costs, limited hatchery capacity, and manual sexing processes, NAPRI remains committed to sustaining and expanding its annual hatching activities.
This development not only strengthens Nigeria’s poultry sector but also aligns with the objectives of the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development. By leveraging strategic collaborations, NAPRI aims to enhance local poultry production and maintain a steady supply of eggs, ultimately contributing to food security efforts in the country. Source- Daily Trust
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
From an agribusiness perspective, NAPRI’s expanded hatching initiative presents multiple benefits and strategic implications:
Increased Local Egg Production: The proliferation of ShikaBrown layers will boost domestic egg supply, potentially stabilising market prices and reducing reliance on imported layers.
Enhanced Genetic Improvement: The genetic upgrading of ShikaBrown layers ensures higher resilience and productivity, making them more suited to local climatic conditions and feed availability.
Opportunities for Private Sector Investment: With limited hatchery capacity and ongoing economic constraints, private agribusiness investors can explore partnerships with NAPRI to scale up hatchery infrastructure and distribution networks.
Support for the Livestock Ministry’s Goals: As the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development takes shape, this initiative reinforces policy efforts toward livestock sector development and self-sufficiency in poultry production.
Challenges to Address: Stakeholders should engage in sustainable solutions to mitigate challenges such as high diesel costs, limited automation in hatcheries, and efficient distribution of day-old chicks to farmers.
As Nigeria’s poultry industry continues to evolve, NAPRI’s sustained commitment to genetic research and parent stock distribution plays a crucial role in driving sectoral growth and food security. Stakeholders should capitalize on this momentum by fostering strategic collaborations and investments to ensure long-term sustainability in the agri-food ecosystem.
