By Anas Abbas
As the joyful Sallah festival approaches, local chicken, broiler chicken, and a unique breed known as “merger” producers are expressing concerns over a significant drop in patronage, which raises worries about the future of their businesses.
Traditionally, this festive season witnesses a surge in demand for chicken as families prepare to celebrate with delicious meals. However, this year, many farmers are facing an unprecedented challenge, including the high cost of chicken feed, losses of the chickens due to hot weather conditions, and low patronage.
In an interview with The Daily Reality, Mallam Shuaibu Ismail, a seasoned chicken seller and rearer, expressed his disappointment. “In previous years, we would have sold out most of our stock by now,” he said. “This time, however, the orders have been minimal, and it’s worrying. We rely on this season to sustain our families and businesses throughout the year.”
“Due to economic hardship, people are not supporting the local chicken businesses, and the chickens have been affected by an unexpected disease,” he added.
Jamila Sulaiman, a broiler rearer, expressed, “Sallah is usually a time of joy for us. We prepare for months in advance, but this year, many customers seem hesitant to buy. We hope that as the festival gets closer, people will start to purchase more, as the chickens are dying because of the sunny weather. Yesterday morning, I found three dead,” she stated.
“If people don’t buy, we will be at great risk as the price of broiler feed approaches 26000, compared to last year N8000,” she added.
The reasons for the low patronage are varied. Some producers attribute it to the rising cost of living and inflation, which have made it difficult for families to budget for festive meals. Others believe that changing consumer preferences and increased competition from larger poultry suppliers may also be contributing factors.
Despite these challenges, local rearers remain hopeful that demand will increase as Sallah approaches. “We are optimistic that people will remember the significance of Sallah meat for their families,” said Isuhu Wada.
“Purchasing the chicken benefits us and also boosts our economy, as we will spend the money on something else.”
As the festival approaches, local chicken farmers are urging consumers to support their businesses and keep the spirit of Sallah alive through communal meals and community support.