AVIAN FLU IN NIGERIA: POULTRY SECTOR IN KANO STATE

UNCLAS ABUJA 002238 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDA FAS WASHDC FOR FAA/RANDY HAGER USDA FOR APHIS/JOHN SHAW USDA FOR WAYNE MOLSTAD/OSEC USAID/W FOR AFR/WA ANGELA LOZANO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO KFLU AMED EAGR EAID NI AVIANFLU SUBJECT: AVIAN FLU IN NIGERIA: POULTRY SECTOR IN KANO STATE REF: ABUJA 1791 ¶1. Summary. Kano State is one of the leading markets for poultry in northern Nigeria. In Kano, most poultry farms are small -- about two thirds have no more than 5,000 birds, and only about 5% of poultry farms in Kano State stock more than 50,000 birds. Kano formerly could not meet locally the demand for eggs, and this situation has worsened with the advent of the avian influzena (AI). Middlemen travel to southwestern Nigeria every week to bring approximately 90 to 120 tons of eggs to Kano. Given increased outbreaks of AI in southwestern Nigeria and the heavy interstate trade in poultry, Kano poultry farms will be at increasing risk for more outbreaks. End summary. ¶2. Muhammad Aminu Adamu, chairman of the Kano State branch of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, recently assessed the poultry sector in Kano State, one of the leading poultry markets in northern Nigeria. In Kano, most poultry farms are small -- about two thirds have no more than 5,000 birds. In that state, about 5% of farms have fewer than 50 birds (backyard flocks),about 15% have 50 to 500 birds, about 45% of farms have 500 to 5,000 birds, and roughly 30% have 5,000 to 50,000 birds. Only about 5% of poultry farms in Kano State stock more than 50,000 birds. ¶3. Local chicken breeds (roughly 65%) dominate the market, while guinea fowl constitute about 25% and other types of birds roughly 10% of the sector. A "very large majority" of people in the area consider broiler meat toQ tasteless and too soft, hence the lack of a proper market for broiler meat. (Note: Industry figures told the agricultural attache that the main factor affecting the popularity of broiler meat was its pricQnot taste. End note.) ¶4. Kano is a large market for all types of poultry products, including eggs. Producers do not have to seek buyers; rather, buyers in Kano State have long sought out producers. Dealers or middlemen buy from farms and sell to direct consumers (individuals, corner shops, and supermarkets) and to processors for onward sales to direct consumers. The latter group includes many sellers of tea, and of sellers of fried yams and eggs, and of fried bean cakes. These last two groups are the largest outlets for eggs in Kano. ¶5. Eggs are sold informally to the neighboring countries of Niger and Chad. In normal times, eggs produced in Kano were not sufficient to meet the demand; AI has worsened this situation. To cover the gap, middlemen travel to southwestern Nigeria, including Ibadan, every week to bring approximately 90 to 120 tons of eggs to Kano. ¶6. All scale of farmers send their poultry and eggs to these different types of markets. Egg dealers station their employees in southwestern Nigeria. These buyers travel to all farms that have eggs for sale and buy the eggs, then wait until they have collected 30 tons before sending a shipment north to Kano State. These transactions operate year round and the tempo increases during the harmattan (dry) season as well as during the Muslim fasting period. They are least busy during April and May. ¶7. Comment: Given the increasing number of AI outbreaks in southwestern Nigeria and the constant flow of live birds and poultry products between Nigeria's states and regions, especially from the hard-hit Southwest to Kano State, the chances of renewed outbreaks in Kano State, as well as other parts of Nigeria, is high and growing.