By Fatima Muraina

Poultry farmers in Ondo State are groaning over high cost of feed caused by maize scarcity.
The Ondo State Chairman of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Mr Gideon Oluleye warned that if the scarcity of maize continues without an holistic approach, it may kill poultry industry in the country.
The situation, he observed, might not be palatable to the nation as South West remained the leading region with over 70 percent of poultry.
“Except government gives a waiver to import maize, the situation could be worse than this next year,” he warned.
According to him, the maize produced in the country is inadequate coupled with the drought which affected planting season.
He said Ondo State with about 10 to 15 million poultry population needed nothing less than about 10,000 and 13,000 metric tonnes of maize to survive while the maize produced is not up to 2,000 metric tonnes.
He urged government to go into a long term strategy on maize production and to do what he called maize anchor for the farmers as well as enhancing the Amotekun to secure the farms against Fulani herdsmen.
“Government should help clear more lands for maize farmers for easy tractorization and get hybrid seeds from the USA, Brazil or Argentina for multiple productions which could give eight tonnes per hectare unlike now where only three tonnes are got per hectares”, he explained.
Reacting on the development, the State Chairman of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr Akinrinade Kayode, said poultry farmers have nothing to worry about as the federal government was trying to ensure that maize is available.
Kayode who spoke in an interview with The Hope said government has promised to distribute agricultural inputs to farmers in December for dry season farming.
He disclosed that the association cultivated over 500 hectares this year and has a dry season programme for an additional 1,000 hectares to make maize available.