As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Egg Day today, stakeholders have shared their thoughts on factors militating against the availability of eggs for average Nigerians consumption.
World Egg Day is celebrated annually on the second Friday of October.
According to a statement on its official website, the International Egg Commission, said this year’s World Egg Day themed: “United by eggs” celebrates egg can connect and unite people from all corners of the globe.
The Commission noted that: “As well as being an environmentally friendly animal protein source and their abundance of nutritional benefits, eggs have the power to bring people together.
“They can play a crucial role in fostering cross cultural understanding and promoting solidarity within communities across the world. We hope that this year’s theme inspires everyone, no matter your location, specialism or area of expertise, to celebrate how we can be.”
Speaking on this year’s celebration, Founder of Dynamic Women in Livestocks and Agro-Allied Association, Abimbola Layo-Ogunyale, said:””This year’s World Egg Day is indeed a mix of feelings for Nigerian farmers, who are grappling with the challenges of producing eggs in an increasingly difficult environment.
“The skyrocketing cost of production, coupled with the soaring prices of eggs in the market, has left many farms shut down with debts.
“Among the the problem we are facing is high cost of feed. The cost of poultry feed has increased significantly, making it difficult for farmers to maintain profitability.
“Also, inadequate infrastructure, poor transportation networks, storage facilities and marketing systems exacerbate the challenges faced by poultry farmers in particular.”
She further noted that the effect of these numerous challenges will be unaffordable eggs, this simply means that a good number of Nigerians will not be able to buy eggs.
Layo-Ogunyale said: “The high prices of eggs (N6,000-N7,000 per crate) have made them unaffordable for many Nigerians.
Another major effect on Nigerians according to her is reduced access to protein once a cheap source of protein such as eggs are now out of reach for vulnerable populations.
She posited that reduced egg consumption may lead to nutritional deficiencies, particularly among children and pregnant women.
She, therefore, called for government Intervention in terms of support for farmers and make eggs affordable for the general public.
Layo-Ogunyale said, government can support poultry farmers by offering financial support for feed, equipment and infrastructure.
“Government can also support by making available improved infrastructure, develop transportation networks, storage facilities and marketing systems. Government should also regulate prices by implementing price control measures to prevent exploitations.
“As we celebrate World Egg Day, we acknowledge the challenges faced by Nigerian farmers and the impact on consumers. It is crucial for stakeholders to come together to address these challenges and ensure that eggs remain an affordable and accessible source of protein for all.”
Also sharing his thoughts, one of the major stakeholders in the Nigerian agricultural sector and Chairman, Folhope Nigeria Limited, Chief Emmanuel Folorunsho Ogunnaike, said:”As we celebrate the World Egg Day, we do not know how long we may be able to continue the tradition.
“There may be a halt in the production of eggs locally due to the increased production costs we face.
“We are not producing as much as we used to in earlier years due to the difficulties faced in the sector locally.
“The only way we can continue and also increase the production of egg is to ease the cost of production in terms of feed.
Government should encourage farmers to embark on massive cultivation of maize and soya so as to ease production costs.
Soya and maize are the major components of any poultry feed meal.
“If we do not have these components in the feed, apart from the birds dying, they will stop laying eggs entirely.
“We want the government at all levels to come to our aid, as most poultry farms are closing up. The poultry sector on its own contributes a large percentage to employment in the agricultural sector.”
Chairman, Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) and Team Coordinator, Lifechoice Foundation, Professor Adeboye Omole, while stressing the importance of egg consumption said eggs stand out as one of the most nutritionally valuable foods available today.
Omole, noted that eggs high-quality protein, essential vitamins and minerals make them a critical component of a balanced diet, supporting muscle health, brain function, eye health, and cardiovascular wellness.
“As research continues to highlight the numerous health benefits of eggs, their role in promoting global food security and improving human health becomes increasingly apparent. Whether consumed as a standalone meal or incorporated into a variety of dishes, eggs remain a vital food for nourishing the world,” he said.
