OVERVIEW
The livestock sub-sector is an important component of the Nigerian Agricultural Economy. Its importance derives from the fact that it is one of the key contributors to the national economy. For example, using the 1984 factor based data, the sub-sector contributed on an annual basis, a little over 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 1996 and year 2000. According to CBN, the livestock sub-sector is second only to the crop sub-sector under the sub-sector contribution to the general agricultural sector, and represents an average over 13% of agriculture’s contribution during the period under consideration.
In terms of specific output, the livestock sub-sector can be broken into product sub-groups such as, poultry meat, goat meat, lamb/mutton, beef, pork, milk and eggs.
Megalinks Poultry Farm is a community based project that was conceptualised by a passionate, committed and enthusiastic social entrepreneur. This farm is set up to promote the creation of jobs, women and youth empowerment, economic development and poverty alleviation. It features key stakeholders such as the youth and women, members and workers of the project, customers, suppliers and the wider community. The farm will specialise in the rearing and sales of birds, production and sale of eggs. The farm will essentially purchase one day old chicks and ‘ready to lay’ pullets and raise them through their productive cycle. I have already identified a suitable location for the farm and have entered into discussions in accruing the land for farm use. The project shall be based in the outskirts of OYO STATE
THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Proposed Megalinks Poultry Farm have realised that there is great demand for chicken and eggs by hotels, bed and breakfast providers, guest houses, holiday resorts and other related entities. These entities usually procure their chicken from as far as Benin republic and are inconvenienced financially as well as time wise by