1. I have had a think on the challenges that farmers face in the current COVID Pandemic dispensation and I invite progressive minds to way in on this issue so we can proffer solutions to mitigate losses: These are my thoughts:
@FmardNg @nassnigeria @FMHDSD, @seyiamakinde/

2. Livestock farmers-specifically poultry farmers are in dire straits. They have eggs no one is buying & chickens the market cannot absolve. The problems of low demand arise from many factors. It is only after a discussion with my brother @babatolly that I got a clear insight/..

3. into the economy that is built around parties/events in Nigeria. Chickens both broilers and old layers are supplied for parties, eateries, bars, restaurants, joints. COVID-19 has practically wiped away these demand sources. Farmers were encouraged to go into farming by FGN/

4. and they did. They cannot be abandoned at present & must not suffer loss from situation of force majeure. So these are my immediate solution ideas:
(a) The FGN & its COVID-19 partners who have raised the COVID-19 relief fund should include Farmers in their relief beneficiaries

(b) The CBN @cenbank should devise a rapid intervention programme to either buy up all excess poultry products and put in storage CBN in cold storage facilities in states that are mostly affected and I believe Oyo is one such state hence the tagging of @SeyiMakinde.

(c) If CBN will not buy the produce, they should hire the storage facilities and then link the farmers with those facilities free of charge, so the farmers can have storage space allocated to them where they can keep their produce until the market demand rises & they can sell./

If (c) is considered, then the farmers should be paid some form of money to serve as palliative measure to keep body and soul together such as a furlough scheme even for a period of 3 months.
(d) Farmers should have a virtual market linked to all SM where direct sales are made/

It is important to note that the normal market routes are compromised at present, but there are still over 50 million adults who will buy eggs and chickens. Farmers need to create new distribution channels and SM can help. /

5. We must not let our farmers suffer. All the State Governments that are presently giving relief packages (a.k.a palliatives) should consider adding chicken & eggs to the pack.

This problem transcends the FGN alone. State Governors need to step up to save their farmers. I rest