The poultry sub-sector is the most commercialized of all of Nigeria’s agricultural sub-sectors.

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​The livestock sector is vital to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

It contributes about 9-10% of agricultural GDP. Moreover, Nigeria’s chicken population is about 150.682 million of which 25% are commercially farmed, 15% semi-commercially, and 60% in

backyards. Consequently, livestock represents an important source of high quality animal
protein, providing about 36.5 per cent of the total protein intake of Nigerians. It is one of the
highest investments in agriculture with net worth of N250 billion.
Poultry production in Nigeria can be classified into extensive and intensive systems based on

scale, stock and the extensive production system presently account for about 85%.



                                        ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF POULTRY  

Economic potential

The poultry sector was the most dynamic meat sector during the last decade, showing the greatest growth of all meat sectors as reflected in world consumption. The dynamism of the global poultry sector has been supported by a strong growth in demand. In Eastern Asia, the lack of supply in pork meat already observed in 2007 and food scares resulted in a gradual shift in consumption from pork to poultry. In the Russian Federation and Latin America, income growth significantly promoted the consumption of meat in general and poultry meat in particular. The demand for poultry meat was even more important in the Middle East, where competition with pork is almost non-existent. At the global level, total poultry meat production increased from 69 million tons in 2000 to 94 million tons in 2008, which corresponds to an increase of 35%. This growth was attained despite recurrent consumer scares and regional trade restrictions linked to the spread of various diseases, such as the outbreaks of the avian influenza and the Newcastle disease, which represented major threats for the poultry sector worldwide.

    

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                                                      Source: FAO Food Outlook, June 2009
It is expected that in the next ten years, the meat sector as a whole will continue the upward production trend driven by world population growth, particularly in developing countries.