Soya exports means rising poultry prices
Continued exports of soya beans to Malawi’s neighbouring countries would lead to low chicken production. This could result in the price of dressed chickens rising above the current K500 (US$3.67).
According to the Poultry Industry Association of Malawi (PIAM), continued export of the beans, which are the main ingredient in the production of chicken feeds, would jeopardise the local industry.
Association chairman Alexander Stewart said the current trend was harmful to the economy because it allows foreign feed producers to import at lower price and treble the selling price.
A 50 kg bag of imported chicken feed was K2,500 ($18.3). The price would be lower if the produce was locally produced, which would bring down the price of dressed chickens.
“Our local companies are also in need of the beans for edible oil extraction, but we are trying to have a proper set up where farmers, traders and producers would determine on how much should be exported after fulfilling the demand within the country,†Stewart said.
Piam also observed that the scarcity of soya would affect production cycles needed in the broiler sector and reduce capacity to expand layer production.
Poultry based income generating activity in the rural, urban and peri-urban areas will also be significantly reduced, hence affecting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods.
Majority soya exports find their way to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
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