Poultry farmers face losses over heat, low demand for eggs

Across key poultry-producing states in Nigeria—Plateau, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory—farmers are facing acute economic pressures due to a decline in egg consumption, exacerbated by intense heatwaves and absence of government-led market interventions such as school feeding programmes.

Egg prices have plunged below production costs in regions like Jos, with recent retail prices ranging between ₦4,200 and ₦4,300 per crate, compared to previous lows of ₦3,900 to ₦4,000. In Abuja, retail prices fluctuate between ₦5,000 and ₦6,500, but poor purchasing power and inflation continue to suppress household demand.

The lack of cold chain infrastructure is amplifying losses. Farmers are struggling to preserve unsold eggs amid soaring temperatures. With eggs piling up and spoilage rising, many resort to distress sales at unsustainable prices to avoid total loss.

In Plateau State, farmers say 80% of eggs are transported to neighbouring states, due to low local consumption. This external dependency makes producers vulnerable to exploitation by off-takers and market shocks. Additionally, many operate as small-scale, informal producers, often treating poultry as a side venture and lacking the financial resilience to absorb current shocks.

Farmers like Muhammad Bello Ibrahim and Nanji Gambo-Oke have expressed frustration at the situation. Gambo-Oke notes that extreme heat in Plateau—historically a cooler climate—has caused production drops, peewee eggs, and high mortality. Poor preparedness for heat stress and limited technical support have left farmers without adaptive measures.

In Niger State, the situation is similarly dire. Farmers are reportedly losing 20+ crates of eggs weekly. Some, like Mohammed Suleiman, have sold off their entire flock due to the unsustainable heat conditions, production drops, and inconsistent electricity supply impacting storage and ventilation systems.

The cumulative effect of poor demand, high feed prices, absence of subsidy, and weather extremes is pushing many poultry farms toward collapse. Association leaders like Mrs. Shinkur Angela Jima in Plateau and Usman Danladi Mohammad in Niger are calling for urgent government support, including input subsidies, improved storage systems, and reintroduction of institutional egg consumption via feeding programs in schools, hospitals, and correctional centres.
Source- Tribune Online

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
Nigeria’s egg production sector, a critical source of affordable protein and rural livelihoods, is now facing a multi-dimensional crisis. Here’s a breakdown of what this situation implies and what stakeholders must consider:

• Egg Glut Signals Market System Fragility
  The accumulation of unsold eggs amidst falling prices highlights:
  – The lack of formal demand structures (e.g., institutional buyers like schools and hospitals).
  – A disconnect between production and market absorption capacity.

Action Point: Agribusinesses, cooperatives, and government actors must co-develop structured off-take programs that guarantee minimum egg purchase volumes tied to public nutrition initiatives.

• Climate Resilience Is Now a Survival Strategy
  The heat-induced production drop and mortality rates expose the vulnerability of Nigeria’s poultry system to climate variability.
  Strategic Levers:
  – Promote climate-smart poultry housing designs, including natural ventilation and heat-reflective roofing.
  – Develop extension programs focused on heat stress mitigation and early warning systems for farmers.
• Cold Chain Investment Must Be Decentralized
  The absence of affordable storage at the farm or community level is a critical gap.
  Opportunities:
  – Energy-efficient egg storage solutions using solar technology.
  – Cold room cooperatives where smallholder producers pool resources to invest in shared storage.
  Partner with off-grid energy providers to improve power reliability in rural zones.
• Informal, Fragmented Producer Base Needs Formalization
  Small-scale farmers with low bargaining power are being exploited by middlemen.
  Recommendations:
  – Strengthen poultry farmers’ associations for collective bargaining.
  – Facilitate access to market intelligence, input financing, and direct-to-retail platforms.
  – Encourage digital traceability and direct B2B platforms to bypass exploitative intermediaries.
• Reinstating Institutional Demand Can Stabilize the Sector
  The discontinuation of school feeding programs has directly impacted egg demand.
  Call to Action:
  – Reinstate and expand public procurement schemes with clear supply frameworks involving verified local producers.
  – Integrate NGO and donor funding into nutrition programs using local poultry as the supply source.
• Policy & Investment Outlook
  The current crisis is not merely about oversupply but is a symptom of structural inefficiencies in Nigeria’s poultry value chain. Sustainable recovery requires:
  – Policy interventions—feed subsidies, weather insurance, and cold chain infrastructure.
  – Private sector innovation—agri-tech for storage, logistics, and smart distribution.
  – Public-private partnerships—to re-establish institutional demand pipelines.

The egg crisis is a wake-up call. Only coordinated, climate-aware, and market-aligned strategies will shield Nigeria’s poultry sector from further shocks. Stakeholders—from policymakers to agri-financiers—must act now to protect livelihoods, ensure food security, and build long-term sector resilience.