Farmers want pig villages-

Pig farmers in Ondo state have called for the establishment of pig villages in major towns in the state to assist them to boost their production.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, the Chairman of Ondo State Pig Farmers Association, Mr Andrew Adebayo in an interview with The Hope in Akure described pig farming as a good business.

According to him, Lagos has seven pig villages constructed by the government for pig farmers.

“We went to Lagos and we saw seven pig villages constructed by the government for farmers there. When we came back, we approached the state government to assist us in building such here but no government has assisted us.

“During the administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu, we went and acquired ten hectares of land at Ilutoro in Akure North local government and we paid the necessary compensation from members contribution.

“We started work there on our own. We moulded some blocks which we thought government will come and lay the foundation for us but nothing happened.

“When Dr Olusegun Mimiko came on board, he promised to assist us, he set up a committee but nothing was done. But we heard that there is a proposal now in 2019 budget that government wants to construct a pig village in Ilutoro because what we are doing there presently is small scale and we will be waiting,” he said.

He called on the state government to establish pig villages in towns like Owo, Ikare, Akure,Okitipupa, Ondo, Ore, among others.

While saying more people are embracing pig farming in the state,he said some other people who were into it had left adding that the little that is being done in the state is through the effort of individuals.

Adebayo who said that there is no assistance even at the federal level noted that government promote cattle more than pig saying that pork is better than beef nutritionally.

While stressing that pig farming is profitable, Adebayo said the animal, if properly fed can give one kilogram of meat per day.

“If they are properly managed, given adequate feed, they can give one kilo of meat per day. But when they are not being catered for, they will be shouting and crying. Also when you add anti-fly guard to their feed, they will not give you any unpleasant odour,” he explained .

Adebayo who said marketing pig is not a problem because people consume pork a lot stressed that the association is working on having a sales point since they no longer operate the one they used to have.

“We were at Lafe where we were slaughtering every two weeks but due to change, we no longer operate the place. The director of livestock in the state said we should get a sales point and we are working on it.

“Marketing pig is not a problem. I used to sell a lot of pork every day in my own house but because of poor electricity supply now, that cannot function again,” he said.

He called on government to assist pig farmers in the state adding that it can generate revenue through that.