Members of the Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria (PAN), Ondo State chapter, have commended the various intervention programmes of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in helping its members across the nation.
The chairman of the association in the state, Mr Gideon Oluleye, stated this while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the association’s stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Akure.
Oluleye said the timely intervention of the apex bank in the poultry subsector, particularly in the South West had helped to ameliorate the suffering of its members during the COVID-19 lockdown.
He said the intervention came in terms of loans, direct allocation of grains (maize) and soya beans to farmers even to the ones at the grassroots level.
Oluleye noted that the interventions must also be concentrated in the South West, being the hub of poultry activities.
He said the initiative had helped the grassroots farmers which had also helped in keeping those employed out of the labour market.
“All of you know we lost a lot of stocks during the COVID-19 lockdown, we were burying eggs, fowls last year because there was no market. CBN came, gave loans to us that impacted our farms and our lives.
“We want to let CBN know that most of the farmers are still looking out for their application to be granted. Personally, I have increased my stock to 10,000 because I am part of those that have benefitted and we are urging them to grant other members loans to ameliorate their plight.
“South West is the hub of poultry activities, no doubt about that; talk about hatchery, meat processing, egg production. Seventy per cent of poultry activities in the country happen in this region; so, more of this intervention should come to the South West,” he said.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of PAN in Nigeria, Joseph Aladesuyi, appreciated the federal government for the various intervention loans to the farmers in the country through the CBN.
Aladesuyi said the South West region still needs more maize and soya beans allocation to meet the needed demand of its members.