Poultry Association Commends Lagos Loan APPEALS Project
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, has commended the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS Project) for loans to local farmers.
PAN Lagos State Chairman, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, lauded the efforts of the project in a welcome address at the 2022 end-of-the-year party at the Alimosho in Lagos.
The APPEALS project is a time-based project developed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with the World Bank and other stakeholders.
The project is in line with the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) 2016-2020 of the Federal Government, also known as the Green Alternative, which built on the legacy of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).
Iyiola who commended APPEALS for the initiative urged the farmers to seize the opportunity to grow their businesses.
“As an association we would love to commend the Lagos State APPEALS programme that have in different capacities been assisting poultry farmers in the state.
“We have been informed that the APPEALS project will end in September 2023, and they would want all the programmes that have been sponsored by them to continue.
“Hence APPEALS is ready to provide loans to poultry farmers in recognised cooperatives like PAN to sustain the impact of the project.
“Registered members can now access loans to grow and expand their farms from these loans. We urge farmers in the state to seize the opportunity and benefit from this.
“We should also be responsible farmers by returning the loans as at when due. There are many benefits for us farmers but they are meant for real farmers only,” Iyiola said
The representative of Mrs Oluranti Sagoe-Ovieboh, SPC Lagos APPEALS project, Mr Oluwashola Johnson, assured the farmers of continuous support to ensure growth and development of the poultry sector.
“The poultry industry is an industry that should have no business importing because it can generate more income than the oil industry.
“There are current challenges plaguing the local poultry industry but they are surmountable if the farmers do not give up.
“Farmers have to tackle issues of production, inputs sourcing, finance, processing, absence of technology, and even low purchasing power of their customers.
“All these challenges are what APPEALS and the government are trying to help local poultry farmers overcome.
“The major mission of the APPEALS project is to increase productivity of local farmers. Our duty is to come in and assist farmers to increase their production volume.
“So far, we have successfully added value to what local farmers are doing and we have good collaboration with PAN and other cooperatives,” Sagoe-Ovieboh said.
The Chairman of PAN in Alimosho, Mr Oluwole Fayefunmi expressed optimistic that the sector would witness enhanced growth with government aids and interventions.
“We are looking forward to a great year and greater poultry industry growth as an association.
“We are organising several trainings and seminars to equip our members this year to overcome the challenges faced in the sector.
We reaffirm that to overcome the challenges faced in the sector that there is nothing we can do without government’s help.
“That is why I want to appreciate the Lagos State Government and the APPEALS project for the help given to the sector.
“We have been given day-old chicks and major poultry inputs to boost our production and we are still expecting more from them.
He added that with efforts from government, they have great hope in the year 2023.
NAN/Lateefah Ibrahim
