Tomorrow, Friday, October 12, poultry farmers all over the world will celebrate World Egg Day- a day set aside to recognize the importance of egg in human lives.
The event was established in Vienna Austria at the International Egg Commission (IEC) conference in 1996 when it was decided that the World Egg Day will be celebrated every second Friday in October each year.
“For centuries, eggs have played a major role in feeding families around the globe. They are an unbeatable package when it comes to versatility and top-quality protein at a very affordable price. And they are also an excellent source of choline, essential in memory and brain development. When you factor in convenience and terrific taste, there is just no competition,” IEC said on their site.
President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), an umbrella body of all farmers and processors in the industry, Mr Ezekiel Ibrahim, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust in Abuja, highlighted some of the benefits of the eggs and production hurdles in the country.
Mr Ibrahim said that the egg is a whole food with all the necessary minerals the body needs, which is why they association seeks government implementation of an egg-a-day policy for the Nigerian child as done in some countries.
PAN also said that government needs to include eggs in the food supply of military personnel serving in conflicts zones, adding that what they eat does not even fit for the animals.
He also called on the government to use eggs to improve the nutrition of prisoners in various Nigerian prisons across the country.
Speaking on production hurdles, Mr Ibrahim said the problem lies with the economy because the nation wasn’t producing enough input, adding that “when you have low cost of production, then your product will be cheaper.”
“Our major challenge is to increase the production of soybeans and maize so that the cost of feeds will drop,” he said.
