Delta State Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), has commended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its planned move to release grains from the nation’s strategic grain reserve to cushion the effect of flooding on farmers nationwide.
This may not be unconnected with the suffering from the negative effects of avian influenza that destroyed their birds last year.
High Chief Alfred Mrakpor, Chairman of PAN, Delta state who made the commendation in Asaba, state capital said PAN should be considered a prioritise sub sector for the release of maize, praising CBN for its planned move to release strategic grain reserve saying that they are still.
He appealed to federal government to grant the association soft loans so as to alleviate their suffering, saying poultry farmers had lost millions as a result of avian influenza and flooding that have ravaged their flocks.
According to him, maize is a major component of chicken ration and allocating subsidised maize to poultry farmers, would reduce the cost of producing birds.
“We sincerely thank CBN and federal government for their initiative to release grains to farmers from the strategic reserve. We are happy that CBN acknowledged that farmers have lost crops valued at billions. We will appreciate this gesture if the CBN would release the grains as soon as possible while giving attention to poultry sub sector.
CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the release of some strategic grain reserves would combat the adverse effects of the flooding that destroyed farms.
Emefiele, however, acknowledged that Nigerian farmers have lost a lot to the floods.
“The flooding of this year happens to be the worst in the last five years in Nigeria. 32 out of the 36 states of the country were affected adversely by the floods. This meant that farmers lost their crops, and food prices and other agricultural products would go up.
“From our side at the CBN and the federal government, we have our strategic reserve, particularly for rice and for grains like maize, which we will use to moderate prices,”he said.
According to the CBN governor, the strategic reserve had been kept by the apex bank for the previous three years.
