September 9, 2024

Feed shortage puts 25 million birds within Colombian poultry sector in peril

Colombia's poultry sector is facing a serious crisis, with 25 million birds at risk due to a severe shortage of feed.

The situation has been primarily caused by widespread road blockades across the country, which have disrupted the supply chain and prevented essential supplies from reaching poultry farms. The blockades, which began in early September 2024, have affected the transportation of feed to poultry farms in key regions such as Santander, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Valle del Cauca.

According to Gonzalo Moreno, the executive president of the National Federation of Poultry Farmers of Colombia (Fenavi), the blockades have halted the delivery of feed, putting millions of birds at risk of starvation.

Santander, one of the most affected regions, produces 25% of Colombia's chicken meat and 23% of its eggs. The blockade has left the region's poultry farms with only a few days' worth of feed.

In response to the crisis, Fenavi has called on the government to take immediate action to resolve the blockades and ensure the free movement of goods across the country. The organisation emphasised the need for dialogue between the government and the transport sector to find a solution that will allow the resumption of feed deliveries to poultry farms.

- aviNews