Ogun govt supports 850 poultry farmers with discounted feeds
In a bold move to strengthen poultry farming and address Nigeria’s protein deficiency, the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) has supported 850 poultry farmers across the state with discounted feed inputs. Each farmer received 80 bags of feed at a 30% discount, enough to raise 500 birds per farmer.
The initiative, unveiled at Elere Village in Obafemi Owode LGA, was flagged off during the processing of 13,000 broiler chickens raised by 26 farmers under the programme. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to reducing production costs for poultry farmers while improving the state’s protein sufficiency.
Hon. Owotomo emphasized that despite Ogun State being Nigeria’s poultry production hub, the state can only meet about 48% of its annual poultry consumption needs—providing 120,000 metric tonnes out of a 250,000 metric tonne demand. This gap, he noted, contributes to the wider national protein deficit, aggravated by poultry imports.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, and OGSTEP State Coordinator, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odusi, both lauded the farmers for maximizing the impact of the support received, which forms part of a broader strategy to ensure food security and improve rural livelihoods.
Dr. (Mrs.) Oluseyi Olugbire, OGSTEP Agric Project Manager, recognized the role of service providers and off-takers in facilitating seamless value chain linkages for poultry farmers. Farmer representative Mr. Ahmed Alli, also the Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Mowe Zone, expressed gratitude for the state’s responsive support amid rising production costs and market volatility.
Source:Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The OGSTEP poultry feed intervention provides valuable lessons for state-level agribusiness strategy, especially for regions seeking to increase animal protein availability while empowering smallholder farmers.
- For Poultry Farmers: Leveraging Feed Subsidies for Profit Reinvestment
The provision of 80 bags of feed at a 30% discount presents a clear opportunity for cost savings, allowing farmers to scale their production or reinvest profits. However, for long-term sustainability, farmers must view subsidies as transitional tools—not permanent solutions. Reinforcing business reinvestment practices is key to compounding growth. - For State Governments: Feed Intervention as a Scalable Policy Tool
Ogun’s model of providing input discounts rather than outright grants ensures cost-sharing and accountability from farmers. This can be a blueprint for other state agricultural projects, especially when linked to conditional processing and off-take arrangements that reduce post-production risks. - For Agri-Financiers and Agritech Firms: A Signal for Targeted Innovation
This intervention opens the door for digital platforms to manage input distribution, monitor performance, and coordinate farm-to-market logistics. Agri-fintechs and input providers can also explore farmer cooperatives as aggregation points for bundled services, including insurance and veterinary support. - For Development Agencies: High ROI on Targeted Nutrition-Focused Interventions
Given the direct link between poultry production and protein access, supporting such programmes through matching grants or blended finance structures can yield dual benefits—improved nutrition and job creation. Monitoring per capita protein intake before and after such interventions can guide future funding. - For National Policymakers: A Wake-Up Call on Import Dependency
Despite Ogun’s prominence in poultry farming, it still imports a significant volume of poultry products. This underscores the need for national policies that protect local producers, enforce import standards, and incentivize backward integration across the poultry value chain.
Conclusion: Feeding the Nation Begins with Empowering the Producers
The Ogun State model showcases the strategic role subnational governments can play in reversing protein deficiency through practical, value-chain-sensitive interventions. The integration of feed subsidies with production targets and market off-take ensures sustainability and efficiency—two principles that Nigeria’s broader livestock policies must now emulate.
