Anambra Govt Moves to Strengthen Pig Farming, Processing and Market Access
By Ebele Iyke Odili
The Anambra State Government has expressed readiness to support initiatives aimed at strengthening pig farming, processing and market access in the state, as the Pig Farmers Association of Anambra State paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Nomso Chukwuma Ebonwu, on September 1, in his office in Awka.
The commissioner, while welcoming the delegation, conveyed the greetings of the Solution 2.0 administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and assured the farmers that their requests and concerns would receive due attention. He, however, urged the association to provide a comprehensive database of pig farmers across the state to enable government to better understand the sector and plan appropriate interventions.
Ebonwu also directed the association to develop a well-structured proposal for a proposed Pig Festival, which he said should be organised soon to create awareness, showcase the economic potential of pig farming and attract greater investment into the sector.
The association, in its presentation, said Anambra currently has about 1,000 pig farmers, with some farms having investments worth hundreds of millions of naira. They stressed the need to strengthen the sector through improved infrastructure, investment, quality control and access to markets.
Among their major requests was the establishment of a modern abattoir and a structured pig farming cluster, described as a “Pig Village”, which they said would support organised production, processing and other activities along the pig value chain.
The farmers also called for stronger regulation and quality control of pigs brought into the South-East from other parts of the country, particularly the North, to safeguard the quality of livestock entering the market and protect local farmers and consumers.
They further appealed for funding and investors to support the expansion of pig farming, while seeking improved processing and packaging facilities. According to them, farmers currently depend largely on butchers who purchase pigs at low prices and make higher returns through processing and resale.
The association also highlighted the need to improve demand and market access, promote cluster farming and create greater public awareness about pig farming and its economic opportunities in Anambra. They expressed confidence that stronger collaboration with government could unlock the sector’s full potential.
The Pig Farmers Association thanked the Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Commerce, for granting them an audience and listening to their concerns, while reaffirming their commitment to working with the government towards building a stronger and more sustainable pig farming industry in the state.
Comments
Post a Comment