BATN Foundation launches poultry farming initiative to support women in Nigeria

NIGERIA – The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation is rolling out a new project aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of women in Zamfara, Nigeria through poultry farming. 

This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, has successfully enrolled 200 women from all 14 local government areas in the state.

During the official launch in Gusau, Oludare Odusanya, the general manager of the BATN Foundation, discussed the organization’s goal of investing in local communities and empowering women. 

Each participant in the initiative was provided with 20 five-week-old broilers, along with specially formulated feed and essential multivitamins to support sustainable farming practices.

The program aims to foster long-term economic empowerment while also providing immediate resources to participants. 

Odusanya mentioned that by nurturing the entrepreneurial skills of these women, the BATN Foundation seeks to enhance food security and strengthen local communities. 

With poultry farming offering a reliable income source, families can improve their living conditions and contribute positively to the regional economy. 

The selection of the 200 beneficiaries was conducted to ensure their commitment to effecting change in their communities.

As the poultry farming project progresses in Zamfara, it is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives across Nigeria and beyond. 

This comes as the Nigerian poultry industry experiences challenges. 

For instance, poultry farmers in Lagos State are increasingly worried about the surging costs of raw materials required for egg production, which have led to a rise in egg prices.

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Lagos, alongside other stakeholders, is urging the government to take prompt action to stabilize the market and alleviate the burden on farmers.

Mr. Mojeed Iyiola, Chairman of PAN, highlighted that the persistent increase in prices of key raw materials, especially those used for bird feed, is the main factor driving up production costs. 

He noted that these elevated input expenses are causing the price of a crate of eggs to continue rising.

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