By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The integrated poultry farm and animal feed mill in Kaduna belonging to Olam Nigeria will commence operations next month, a senior executive of the firm has disclosed.
It is expected to produce over one million high-quality layers (for eggs) and broilers (for meat) weekly.
Vice President, Corporate and Government Relations, Olam Nigeria, Mr Ade Adefeko, in an interview with Daily Trust, disclosed that the N20 billion project will have a state-of-the-art animal feed mill, poultry breeding farms and hatchery to produce day-old-chicks.
He said when commissioned in September, the firm will utilise around 180,000 tonnes of corn and 75,000 tonnes of soya beans, thereby boosting the farming of the crops and contributing to the development of the Nigerian poultry and aquaculture sectors.
According to him, the 50,000 metric tonnes of on-site storage, in addition to a similar capacity of outsourced storage, will support food security and price stabilisation for farmers, adding that training on farming practices will be offered to farmers in collaboration with federal, state and non-governmental agencies to increase farm yields and crop profitability.
“Also, a Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) agenda covering education, health and sanitation will be created in partnership with neighbouring communities and an integrated rainwater harvesting programme will help the site meet its water requirements and solar power generation facilities will reduce dependence on fossil fuel based energy,” Mr Adefeko told Daily Trust.
He added that the feed mill will have capacity of 300,000 tonnes per annum to offer competitively-priced and specially formulated feeds for local poultry farmers, noting that the company will provide veterinary field support for local poultry farmers in partnership with InVivo Animal Nutrition & Health.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Dipo Olowookere