March 30, 2010

Zimbabwe farmers want the government to suspend importing chickens for three months because they have built up unsold large stocks due to competition from imports.

Zimbabwe Poultry Association chairman, George Nare, said farmers had 1,400 tonnes of frozen poultry in stock because South African and South American imports had priced them out of the market.

He said farmers were now being forced to rent storage space for their poultry. According to the association, monthly production of broiler day-old chicks stood at 2.5 million, surpassing average historic production figures of 2.3 million between 2002 and 2007.

Nare said, "This implies the poultry industry currently has the capacity to produce plus or minus 3,000 tonnes of poultry meat per month. This production is enough to sustain the local poultry meat demands."

He recommended removing the value-added tax on day-old chicks, duties on breeding stock and feed additives, saying they contributed to the higher price of local chickens compared to imports.

It is also alleged that South African and South American poultry are heavily injected with a brine solution to levels as high as 40%. Local regulations are for a maximum of 15% brine. The brine solution increases bird weight when frozen. However, the solution seeps out before and during cooking leaving the actual meat content at 60-70% of the original weight.

The main aim of brining chicken is to improve its flavour but meat processors of imported chicken are now using it to maximise their profits by putting on artificial weight on frozen chickens, Nare said.

This means local chickens are better value for money, he said. He called on the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe to educate people to make informed decisions when buying chickens.