By MERCY OMOIKE

The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, has blamed the reduced patronage of eggs to low purchasing power, greedy retailers and low consumption.

The PAN Lagos State Chairman, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Iyiola noted that eggs are still the cheapest source of protein in country, but blamed retailers? low purchasing power among the reasons for the reduced patronage of the produce.

?The reduced patronage of eggs in the poultry sector is not peculiar to the farmer alone.

?Virtually, all consumable goods are undergoing the same low patronage due to the low purchasing power in the economy.

?Maybe, salaries are unable to meet up the nutritional demands of the family or other expenses take a priority to other purchasing eggs.

?Eggs are still the most affordable protein you can buy in Nigeria, as they are not as expensive as people think.

?The takeout from the poultry farms is less than N5,500 per crate. However, the consumption pattern of individuals varies. The impression of egg being expensive is just fixed in people?s mind,? Iyiola said.

He reiterated that the greed of the retailers and middlemen could be blamed for the low patronage due to their quest for increased profits.

?Also, the retailers who buy at N5,500 at the farm gate price are adding higher profits than normal for selfish gains.

?When retailers purchase a crate of egg at the rate of N5,500, the maximum profit they should add should not be more than N100 or N200.

?However, some retailers sell a crate of egg as high as N6,000 or N6,500, thereby making more profits than poultry farmers who do all the work.

?A profit of N1,000 is too much for a crate of eggs, so the price increment or low patronage cannot be blamed on farmers.

?Also, the cost of raw materials for production should be factored in, although it is still bearable,? the PAN chairman said.

Iyiola explained that the subvention by the Lagos State Government had helped the farmers to subsidise cost while it lasted.

?The subvention we received from the Lagos State Government was for a while and it helped us while it lasted, but it is on hold at the moment.

?We are still expecting the palliatives from the government to further cushion production expenses in the sector,? he said.

On his part, Mr Joel Oduware, poultry processor, said the general economic downturn could be blamed for the hike of the produce and low purchasing power globally.

?Generally, the low patronage of eggs has to do with the economic downturn generally, low disposable income and low purchasing power.

?Despite the schools resumption, we presumed an increase in eggs consumption than when they were in recess but we are still having low consumption, especially in some northern states and some other states.

?Basically, the general economic strain is the reason for the low patronage. Naturally, the global financial disposable income of consumers is also affecting our industry, people cannot afford to eat more comfortably than they used to do before.

?We can reduce the price of eggs a bit instead of experiencing constant egg glut in the sector.

However, we can only cut down price factoring in the cost of production,? Oduware said. (NAN)

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