Chicken Farm Losses: Expert Advocates Digitalisation For Rescue, Development

A Professor of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Saidu Oseni, has said that digitalization is the bedrock of development to rescue chicken rearing from loses.

Oseni, made the statement during the programme which is premised on African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) held at the Conference Center of Obafemi Awolowo University, on Tuesday, in Ile-Ife.

The Theme of the Programme titled "Data Enabled Innovations for Enhancing Welfare and Productivity of Broiler Chickens"

The Lead Researcher of the Programme explained that overtime, they've seen that most of those in business of rearing broilers are in neck deep of losses as a result of not know accurate data.

According to him, it is expedient for them to rise above board in this economic realities through various means of technological advancement which will really help them.

The Don encouraged them to embrace digital technology so as to reduce drastically their losses.

"In order to enhance for food security and bring innovative ideas to livestock sector most especially in rearing broilers, participants from the Town and Gown synergies on how to make the business more profitable for those in the business.

"AAKTP is a knowledge transfer partnership with their foreign collaboration with University of West England, United Kingdom." The facilitator stated.

He appreciated the foreign partner Prof. Kamran Munir of University of West England, United Kingdom for this great feat.

Delivering his message, the Institution's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire said that research is for a purpose which is to bring new innovations.

Bamire adding that through research, data which is very essential of it must be effectively used for important decisions to be taken.

He expressed that a lot of innovations we are seeing around globally was as a result of research.

The Vice-Chancellor, however appreciated Prof. Oseni and his research team for this laudable project.

In his own words, Prof. Kamran Munir of the University of West England, United Kingdom stated that it is high time farmers goes on digital technology which will enhance their productivity.

In his lecture delivered at the event, a PhD scholar in the Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture of the University, Olamide Akintaro, Managing Director, Taro Farms Consulting said.

 "Nigeria has the largest animal eggs production and second largest chicken population in Africa.

"But those in the business faced myriad of challenges ranging from drugs which is on the high side, cost of labour, stealing of eggs by farms workers, feed mills, among others". He stressed.

He added that the country currently records shortage of over 70% of chicken meat.

The Scholar however opined that the world is becoming digital with technological innovations that will enhance the production of broilers chicken.

Therefore, having more digital farmers which translates from the old way of doing it to the new way of doing it will encourage younger farmers to participate in farming which is digitalized enterprise.

He said, with digital technology, farmers can sit at the comfort of their room and be monitoring what is happening in their farms.

Akintaro posited that he's particularly impressed because this is stakeholders engagement which brought interactions from the Town and Gown where they are having the academia coming from their utopian height to relate with farmers in a friendly discussion.

The event was graded by Farms owners in Ifeland and by extension, Osun State, members of the academic community amd the general public.