Lack of farmer friendly policies, incentives hampering poultry, agriculture productivity – Don

The lack of incentives and friendly government policies have been the bane of agricultural development in Nigeria, particularly in the poultry sector, Professor Olufemi Olubunmi Egbewande of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL) has said.

He stated this in an inaugural lecture delivered at the university main campus in Lapai Thursday. 

Egbewande, a lecturer and professor of Monogastric Animal Production in the Department of Agriculture, spoke on the need for reforms in government policies through support and improved research funding towards ensuring adequate security and institutional support for agricultural innovation.

In the lecture titled: “Platonic Love for Chicken,” the lecturer captured the importance of consumption of chicken and its products as the richest source of nutrients for Nigerians while advocating for a collaborative funding model by government, industries and wealthy individuals to ensure sustained innovation in Nigeria’s poultry sector.

He said, “Reforming the poultry sector would not only improve productivity of farmers but also guarantee opportunities for young professionals in Agriculture, particularly poultry production. Policymakers should introduce farmer friendly policies that would stimulate poultry production across the country.”

He advised the government to adopt phylogenetic alternatives, plant-based solutions for disease prevention towards enhanced agricultural production in the country. He added that reducing the cost of feeds and providing accessible, low-interest loans will boost productivity and encourage more Nigerians to invest in poultry farming.

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Mohammed Hadi  Suleiman, reiterated the unwavering commitment of the university’s management fostering inaugural lecture schedules for the development of professors and the institution.