April 16, 2004

Zambia's Poultry Industry Picks Up

Zambia's poultry industry has shown remarkable improvements this year due to the ban of poultry products from neighboring countries.
 
According to statistics obtained from the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), the poultry industry has moved from growing 850,000 chicks per month last year to 1.2 million chicks each month during the first quarter of this year.
 
ZNFU forecasts that the figure is likely to go up to between 2 and 2.4 million chicks every month before the end of this year.
 
"This growth is largely attributed to the veterinary ban of poultry products from South Africa and Zimbabwe. The situation mayhave not been the same had this not happened," Guy Robinson, president of the ZNFU said here Thursday during the meeting of poultry farmers.
 
In the ZNFU's official words, there has also been significant exports of hatching eggs as well as commencement in exports of chickens.
 
"To cap it all you can truly be proud that there are no more and no need of imports of poultry products into Zambia," he said.
 
According Robinson, the ZNFU has set up an anti-smuggling task force to ensure that no poultry products enter Zambia from neighboring countries and asked the Zambian government not to liftthe ban.
 
"If the ban is lifted, there are strong indications that the poultry industry cannot afford pressure from imports. That is why as ZNFU we are urging the government to keep the costs of production down so that we become more competitive," he said.