December 19, 2003

 

Zimbabwean Poultry Exports Affected

 

Poultry exports from Zimbabwe were affected adversely as most of the major importing countries start developing poultry sectors using expertise from farmers displaced by Zimbabwe's controversial land reform.

 

Giving the example of Zambia, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Poultry Producers Association (ZPPA), Peter Drummond, said President Levi Mwanawasa's government had given 41 former Zimbabwean farmers poultry licences by November this year.

 

It is also suspected that other countries had cut down on imports to protect their own fledgling industries.

Before 2000, ZPPA had niche markets in Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda.

 

Drummond, however, said the supply of poultry had remained stable on the domestic market although the industry is also suffering from the high cost of feeds, most of which is being imported because of the drought and supply shortfalls created by the land reform.

 

"Maize and soybean constitute more than 60% of the total products that make up stockfeed, and this (shortage) affects producers who want to run sustainable operations," Drummond said.

 

"Because imported maize is expensive and also because most companies that import the maize use foreign currency sourced from the black market, the prices of poultry products will keep on skyrocketing," said a source in the poultry industry.

 

Agrifoods and National Foods are two of the country's leading stockfeed manufacturers.

 

One ton of stockfeed is estimated to cost $2 million, while a ton of soybean costs $1.6 million.

 

This has pushed the price of eggs to $500 - $600 in most supermarkets, which is beyond the reach of the average consumer.

 

ZPPA, said Drummond, had broadened its membership base to include small-scale farmers who breed at least 2 000 or more day-old chicks or 2 500 chicken layers a month.

 

"This was done to accommodate new players emerging from the new farming environment," he said.