Nigerian Farmer Grows 50,000 Chickens Despite Tragedy

When bandits killed his brother, Adamu Tilde had every reason to shut down his farm and leave Bauchi State. Instead, he doubled down, turning Yettore Farms into one of Northern Nigeria's largest private poultry operations.

The 34-year-old farmer now manages 50,000 laying hens, 1,000 cattle, and thousands of rams across a growing enterprise that supplies eggs and meat to eight Nigerian states. His journey started in 2005, hit a wall in 2011, and roared back to life in 2020 with a sharper focus on professional management.

"We paused production because of internal challenges," Tilde explains. "But we revived the business with clearer structures and a renewed focus on sustainability and scale."

The revival came just in time to face Nigeria's perfect economic storm. Between 2023 and today, the price of a day-old chick jumped from 700 naira to 2,500 naira. Feed costs nearly tripled. Fuel subsidies vanished overnight, and the naira's value collapsed.

Tilde's response defied conventional wisdom. While other farms cut production, he maintained his flock size and managed resources more carefully. "We did what needed to be done and remained hopeful," he says. "But we did not reduce our production volume."

His team runs the operation like a science lab, not a traditional farm. Most managers are trained animal scientists and veterinarians who review performance data daily and monitor disease outbreaks. They deliver eggs in non-refrigerated trucks during early morning and late evening hours to beat the heat on poor roads.

Security threats remain constant. Bandits from Zamfara regularly move through southern Bauchi, creating what Tilde calls "deeply traumatic" conditions. The attack that killed his brother nearly ended everything.

State security forces and local government intervention helped the farm survive. Now Tilde is building a permanent 10-hectare site along the Jos-Bauchi Expressway, complete with a mini abattoir and cold storage facilities.

The Ripple Effect

Yettore Farms supplies reliable protein to millions across Northern Nigeria, a region where food security remains fragile. The operation provides jobs for veterinarians and animal scientists who might otherwise leave the state. It proves that professional agricultural enterprises can thrive in challenging environments when management stays disciplined.

By 2027, Tilde plans to double his laying hens to 100,000 birds. He's launching a business line targeting hotels and restaurants interested in free-range products. The expansion creates a model for other farmers facing similar pressures.

Against economic chaos and personal tragedy, one farmer chose growth over retreat and built something that feeds his region.