poultry
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have commended the Federal Government for instituting the National Egg Production (NEGPRO) scheme, as well as appointing Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited as consultant and manager of the scheme.
NEGPRO is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture aimed at increasing the output of egg production in the country to 50m table eggs daily by 2018. It also aims at creating about one million jobs at full capacity; empower as many farmers as possible; increase contribution of poultry sector to GDP of Nigeria and increase internally generated revenues.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited recently in Abuja signed a N25b agreement on NEGPRO scheme to be financed by the Bank of Industry (BOI). The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Chairman of Tuns Farms Limited, Asiwaju Olatunde Badmus.
In a message to Tuns Farms Limited, signed by Executive Director, Middernacht Chi Farms, Executive Director, Mr. Martin Middernacht, he expressed support for the Federal Government for introducing the scheme, saying NEGPRO is an important initiative that will improve food security and economic diversification.
In a similar development, Sir Clement Okonjo, former Zonal Vice President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria and Chairman of Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited, said the successful implementation of the NEGPRO scheme will boost the economy of the country and build up the poultry sector in Nigeria. “We commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for this laudable project, which we believe, will change the face of the poultry industry in Nigeria”, Sir Okonjo wrote in a message to the management of Tuns Farms.
“We also congratulate you on the enormous strides you have been making in the effort to build the poultry industry in Nigeria. We have followed your success story with the Osun State Programme for Children Feeding, which have enabled you reach an agreement with the Federal Government for same purpose” he wrote.
As part of its role as manager of the scheme, Tuns farms Limited will recommend eligible entrepreneurs to access the N25b facility through the BOI. The company will also develop customised and standard feed concentrate for the scheme to ensure uniformity.
In addition, the company will recommend standard specification and costing for the scheme, monitor activities of entrepreneurs involved in the Scheme, support the BOI, through the National Technical Committee in the selection process of commercial banks to disburse and recoup the N25b anchor borrower facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as well as select entrepreneurs/stakeholders across the country for recommendation to the Technical Committee for final ratification and appointment to participate in the scheme.