30/08/2024
Highlights of the Maiden Edition of Pig Industry Conversations – Part 2
Pig Farm Clusters, Cooperatives and Pig Farmers Associations – Mr. Ugiri Ikechukwu (Focal Panelist)
Pig farm clusters, cooperatives and pig farmers associations in Nigeria was one of the topics extensively discussed at the maiden edition of the Pig Industry Conversations (PIC).
The Enugu State Pig Farmers Association’s coordinator, Mr. Ugiri Ikechukwu, who examined the modus operandi, merits and demerits of pig farm clusters and farmers cooperatives as well as the imperatives of pig farmers associations using his state’s experience as a case study advised pig farmers across the country to embrace cluster farming as a way forward for profitable pig farming in Nigeria especially for smallholder pig farmers, insisting that the advantages of farming in clusters outweighed both its disadvantages and the alternative approach.
He explained that though it was desirable and encouraged for government to earmark and provide supporting facilities for pig farm clusters, it was even faster and more realistic for individuals to intentionally collaborate and develop private pig farm clusters such as the one where his farm is located in Enugu State. In their case, individuals decided to concentrate their pig farms around a particular location (whether they inherited, purchased or leased a parcel of land in that area) and gradually a cluster was created.
With that kind of central arrangement, suppliers, service providers and buyers are attracted to the location. The farmers are able to access veterinary services, transport services, feed supplies, etc at shared costs, making it cheaper to run their farms compared to farmers whose farms are located in isolation. Also, it is easier for the pig farmers within the cluster to effectively organize themselves into cooperatives and self-help thrifts to support one another, collectively bargain and finance their businesses.
Through associations, they are able to regulate the conduct of farmers as well as prices of pig and pig products in the cluster to ensure mutual safety and gain. Moreover, farmers in the cluster benefit from peer-motivation, free and/or cheap information and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
Additionally, a cluster has the potential to create a viable source of constant pig supply capable of attracting private, cooperative and/or government investments in pork processing and value-addition facilities to that location, which could lead to improved support for farmers through backward integration.
Mr. Ugiri further highlighted that disease outbreak and spread, particularly African Swine Fever (ASF), as the major concern of pig farm clusters. However, he explained that with appropriate biosecurity measures, continuous enlightenment and regulations among the cluster operators, and growing pig health research, that can be curtailed.
On pig associations, the Enugu State Pig Farmers Association’s helmsman who is also the CEO, Gracious and Nelious Agros and Chairman, Goshen Pig farmers and Multipurpose Cooperative Association urged pig farmers to join pig farmers associations in their respective states. Where they do not exist, he encouraged pig farmers to form one for themselves, noting that an association provides a viable platform for self-support, collective bargain and advocacy that can influence favourable government policies the farmers. With viable associations, they can also reasonably control prices and even curtail scammers that may be within their areas masquerading as pig farmers to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Learning from the conversations, participants encouraged buoyant individuals and private entities to develop pig farm clusters for rental to smallholder farmers to support pig farming for production of alternative source of protein, livelihoods and local economic development in the areas.
… to be continued.
PIC is hosted by Pork-n-Pig Palace
Image credit: AI-generated.
