Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s proposed $900 million poultry partnership with Chinese investors is encountering opposition from local farmers, sparking concerns over the potential impact on the domestic poultry sector. The agreement, inked in Abuja earlier this month, outlines plans for the construction of integrated hatcheries, feed mills, and processing plants in six Nigerian states.
Local poultry farmers are voicing their concerns, fearing that the deal could undermine domestic producers. They warn that the influx of cheap imported parent stock and frozen products could saturate the market, leading to a price war that would drive them out of business. A representative of the farmers’union emphasized, “The fear is that subsidized Chinese genetics will price Nigerian chicks out of the value chain.”.
While government officials assert that the project will generate 15,000 jobs and reduce annual import bills, the lack of clarity regarding timelines and ownership structures for the joint venture has fueled the farmers’apprehensions. The Ministry of Agriculture has yet to provide further details on these critical aspects.
The situation remains fluid as the local poultry industry grapples with the potential changes brought by the Chinese investment.
Source: Africa. Businessinsider
