Zambia to increase poultry exports
Zambia is set to increase poultry exports to Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana by 5% this year, the country’s national poultry body has stated.
The executive manager of Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) Mathews Ngosa said the industry’s exports started on a slow pace, as the association was still building capacity in the region.
Ngosa also said the association suffered setbacks in the region in terms of compliance to exports standards set for the industry.
“We started on a slow note due to setbacks in terms of compliance. We exported 10% of our total production last year and we intend to increase our exports by 5% this year,” Ngosa said.
Farmers on the Copperbelt were exporting 90% of table eggs to the Democratic Republic of Congo of which only 10% of their total production was being returned to the country.
Ngosa appealed to newcomers to the poultry industry to ensure that they follow the rules and standards set for the industry saying that this would help the industry raise the exports and become one of the best poultry sectors in the region.
PAZ in the Petauke District of Zambia has recorded an increase in the supply of chicks from 120,000 in 2011 to 164,979 last year. District committee chairperson Monica Longwe said the district had recorded growth in the supply of chicks despite the area suffering an interlude shortage of chicks from October to December 2012.
Longwe said the growth in demand for the chicks had attracted a number of hatcheries into the area such as Hybrid, Ross Breeders and Panda, who supplied chicks through appointed agents. She said despite the growth, marketing of poultry products still remained a serious challenge in the district and continued increase in feed prices had seen some farmers operating at a loss.
Source: Times of Zambia
