Experts in Nigeria's agricultural sector are calling for significant reforms and increased investment in the poultry industry to unlock its potential for enhancing food security, creating jobs, and stimulating economic growth. This call to action was made during the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) summit held in Lagos State, themed "Flocking to Growth: Transforming Nigerian Poultry Industry through Innovation and Investment."

Professor Olutayo Adeyemi highlighted the strategic importance of Nigeria's poultry industry, particularly noting that the South-West region serves as the hub for poultry production in West Africa. He pointed out that advancements in poultry genetics have led to improved productivity, but emphasized that collaboration among researchers, farmers, regulators, investors, and the government is crucial for the industry’s growth.

Adeyemi identified several key areas that require urgent investment, including precision feed milling, genetics and breeding, broiler production, processing, cold-chain logistics, standard abattoirs, and value addition. He expressed concern over Nigeria's limited processing capacity, which he believes hampers the industry’s ability to meet the growing demand for poultry products.

In a related presentation, Dr. Mobolaji Alabi discussed sustainable poultry production, focusing on best practices, climate change, and waste management. He noted that agriculture contributes approximately 23.1% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as of the first quarter of the year. However, he cautioned that the current poultry population of around 300 million birds is insufficient to meet future demand, urging farmers to adopt precision management techniques. This includes accurately measuring feed, medication, and bird weight to enhance productivity and mitigate antimicrobial resistance.

The summit underscored the need for a collective effort among stakeholders to transform the poultry industry, which is seen as vital for Nigeria's agricultural landscape. With the right investments and innovations, experts believe that the poultry sector can significantly contribute to the nation’s economy and food security.