NALDA boosts domestic production through homegrown poultry program

NIGERIA – The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has revealed its commitment to continue intensifying efforts to reduce chicken imports and enhance domestic poultry production with its “Home Grown Poultry Program.”

This comes as former Nigerian President Obasanjo calls to seal borders against poultry imports, aiming to rejuvenate Nigeria’s poultry industry.

Olusegun Owolabi, the Head of Engineering and representative of the NALDA executive secretary emphasized that the program aims to empower women and youth in agribusiness, fostering sustainable agriculture for increased incomes and livelihoods.

“We need to take over the business and ensure that we stop exporting jobs. For every product that we import, we have exported our employment, and for every local thing we consume, we create employment for someone, somewhere in the country,” he said.

“NALDA is out to sustain the total ban on the importation of frozen chicken for the poultry industry to expand, reduce unemployment, and boost the country’s economy by empowering the individual to upscale their poultry production.”

The initiative is currently viewed as a strategic move to curtail chicken imports, ultimately saving foreign exchange and contributing to the expansion of the poultry industry.

Owolabi highlighted the importance of seizing control of the poultry business to prevent the exportation of jobs and emphasized the need to sustain the ban on frozen chicken imports.

As part of the program, beneficiaries in various local governments of Nasarawa state received support, including a 3-tier bird cage, 25 birds, and 3 bags of feed.

The program operates on a revolving basis, with the sustainability and continuity of the initiative reliant on the commitment of the beneficiaries.

Owolabi encouraged beneficiaries to pay close attention to training and guidance on poultry handling, emphasizing the program’s potential to reduce unemployment and boost the country’s economy.

The Emir of Lafia and Chairman of the Nasarawa Council of Chiefs, Sidi Muhammed, expressed gratitude to NALDA for choosing Nasarawa state as a conduit for implementing the program.

“We thank you for finding the traditional institution in the state worthy, using us as the conduit pipe for translating this programme into reality. You have made the right decision.”

He assured that the traditional institution in the state would strive to justify the decision and contribute to the success of the initiative.

NALDA’s Home Grown Poultry Program represents a significant step towards achieving food self-sufficiency, promoting local production, and empowering communities in the agricultural sector.

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