Nigeria targets annual production of 262 million day-old chicks

The Nigerian Federal Government aims to produce 262 million day-old chicks annually to bolster the domestic poultry industry and decrease reliance on imported breeding materials. Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha announced the target during the Nigeria Poultry Show in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

To address immediate supply shortages, the government plans to import approximately 60 million hatchable eggs. This intervention is intended to reduce the current waiting period for farmers, which can reach up to four months, down to approximately one month.

Additionally, the government is working to introduce grandparent stock to enhance domestic breeding capacity. These measures are designed to stabilize production schedules, reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions, and meet the rising demand for poultry products within the country.