PAN attributes high egg prices to inputs, market factors

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has attributed the rising cost of eggs to high production costs, as well as demand and supply dynamics in the market, the FCT Secretary said.

Hakeem Musa, PAN FCT Secretary, told our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja that a crate of eggs was currently selling between N6,000 and N7,500, depending on size and location.

He decried the rising cost of essential production inputs such as day-old chicks, point-of-lay birds, and feed, which continued to place pressure on poultry farmers across the country.

Musa said broiler day-old chicks currently cost between N1,500 and N1,800, depending on the brand, while layers day-old chicks ranged from N2,800 to N3,000.

He added that point-of-lay birds now sell for N10,000 and above, compared with N2,500 in 2023, highlighting the drastic increase in production costs over the past year.

The PAN secretary called for urgent government intervention at both the national and FCT levels to reduce the cost of production and make poultry products more affordable to consumers.

He recommended that the government convened a stakeholders’ roundtable, including representatives from hatcheries, farmers, and regulatory authorities, to identify problems and tackle the challenges head-on.

Musa said such measures would provide lasting solutions to lingering challenges in the poultry industry and ensure eggs remained accessible and affordable for the general populace.

He warned that failure to address those challenges would make poultry products increasingly unaffordable, putting pressure on both farmers and consumers alike.

“Feed costs; veterinary medications, transportation, energy, and other operational expenses continue to strain poultry farmers.

“A 25kg bag of feed now sells between N22,000 and N25,000, depending on brand and location,” he explained.

He also said that demand and supply imbalances contributed to high prices, as many poultry farmers had scaled down operations or temporarily exited production due to escalating costs.

“This reduction in supply, coupled with steady consumer demand, has pushed egg prices higher,” Musa said, urging prompt interventions to stabilise the sector.

However, he assured that with improved economic conditions, input cost stabilisation, and supportive policies, production levels could recover, ultimately leading to moderation in egg prices nationwide.