Abia targets 20,000 tonnes of soybeans to cut poultry feed costs

NIGERIA – Abia State is targeting annual soybean production of 20,000 tonnes as part of a new agricultural diversification drive to reduce poultry feed costs, strengthen local feed-ingredient supply, and expand commercial farming in southeastern Nigeria.

The initiative is being led by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Abia State chapter, in partnership with the National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI), Amakama.

AFAN Chairman Lady Gift Chidinma Ogbonna announced the target during a two-day practical training and crop demonstration for farmers at the NCRI facility in Amakama, Umuahia.

The programme is using a 1.5-hectare demonstration farm divided among Abia’s 17 local government areas to introduce farmers to the commercial potential of soybean, sesame, Bambara nut, rice, castor and other crops.

Ogbonna said the initiative would progress from crop production into value addition and agro-processing, creating additional income and export opportunities for farmers.

“We want every farmer to become rich,” she said, urging producers to move from subsistence farming towards agriculture as a business supported by proper records and reliable data.

Soybean production targets poultry feed costs

AFAN Youth Representative Dr Chibuzo Obiesili said expanding soybean production could help address one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s poultry industry: expensive feed.

Obiesili, a veterinary doctor and soybean farmer, said the high cost of poultry feed was forcing some farmers out of business. 

Increasing local soybean production would provide feed manufacturers with a more accessible source of raw material while creating another income stream for farmers.

He said Abia could eventually produce between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes of soybeans annually and estimated that increased local production could reduce poultry feed costs by up to 50%.

Soybeans are a major protein source in poultry diets, making their availability and price an important factor in feed manufacturing costs.

The initiative also seeks to reduce the Southeast’s dependence on crops traditionally associated with northern Nigeria. 

NCRI Amakama Head Dr Jude Eze said the institute was working with AFAN to introduce farmers to cereal and oilseed production suited to the region.

The current demonstrations focus on soybean and sesame, while NCRI also works on crops including rice, castor and sugarcane.

NCRI Farm Manager Samuel Ijebuonwu said the institute was supplying high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties while providing farmers with practical production knowledge.

Beyond feed ingredients, AFAN is also seeking to address the infrastructure constraints limiting commercial agriculture in the state.

Ogbonna identified mechanisation as a major challenge, with tractor-based land preparation costing about N450,000 per hectare because of diesel and logistics costs. 

She called for 15 tractors, with five allocated to each of Abia’s three agricultural zones.

The association has more than 17,000 registered members in Abia, including more than 1,000 active youths.

AFAN is also expanding its activities into livestock and aquaculture, with farmers and corps members receiving training in fish farming as the association seeks to diversify incomes and strengthen local protein production.

If implemented at scale, the soybean programme could create a stronger link between Abia’s farmers and the poultry feed industry, while supporting the development of a more diversified agricultural and feed supply chain in southeastern Nigeria.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates