To empower residents and improve nutrition, Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has partnered with Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited to empower 50 residents with 1000 noiler birds.
This collaboration, according to the ministry, offered a sustainable poultry solution to combat food insecurity, poverty, and malnutrition through a simple and accessible programme.
The ministry’s initiative provides carefully selected residents from the Lagos State Social Registry with a toolkit for success. Each beneficiary received a start-up pack consisting of 20 five-week-old noiler birds, 25kg of Amo Byng Grower Pellet, and a pack of divertamin, a nutrient blend for optimal bird growth and production.
The Noiler Empowerment programme was among several presented at the micro-enterprise support ceremony hosted by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada.
The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. ClaudaniaIbijoke Sanwo-Olu; commissioners of various ministries; members of the state executive council.
With this empowerment project, beneficiaries received training on optimal bird care from Amo Farm’s National Sales Coordinator for Noiler, OlayinkaAkorede. Noiler, which is an innovation of Amo Farm, not only offers a viable source of income, but also provides an essential source of animal protein, particularly beneficial for children’s immune system, brain development, and overall health.
Its hardy nature, delicious taste, and ability to thrive on kitchen waste make it perfect for low-resource farmers. Adaptable to diverse environments, the noiler empowers communities by boosting food security, income, and sustainability. She further explained that the noiler birds are dual-purpose for both egg and meat production.
“The female noiler will start laying eggs at 20-22 weeks, supporting their feeding and income generation. The male noiler can be consumed at 14-16 weeks,” explained Akorede.
Amo Farm’s Business Development Manager, Mrs. ItoroAwala-Ale, further committed to assisting the Lagos State beneficiaries through extension services and support throughout their Noiler poultry ventures and they were each connected to a farmer satisfaction representative. This builds on the company’s existing support of over 1.3 million small-holder farmers through noiler farming.
The noiler bird’s rapid adoption for state empowerment programmes is evident. Recently, Bauchi State partnered with an NGO to empower 300 women with 20 Noiler chicks each, while others have expressed interest in following suit.
Amo Farm, led by Dr. AyoolaOduntan and producing over a million chicks per week, remains dedicated to agricultural innovation that enhances food security and fulfills the nutritional needs of the people.