Zambia records increase in broiler production

Zambia records increase in broiler production
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Monday, October 27, 2008 10:24:26 PM

ZAMBIA’S total annual production for broilers has this year hit 33 million from 15 million birds in 2000, Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) executive director Mathews Ngosa has disclosed.

And the Livestock Working Group (LWG) of the Ministry of Agriculture has proposed the establishment of an Animal Disease Control Emergency Fund for rapid response to disease outbreak.

Addressing journalists last week during the Private Sector Development (PSD) organised media breakfast in Lusaka, Ngosa also predicted that the country’s poultry output is next year expected to hit 42 million birds, 10 per cent of which is reserved for export markets.

“We might go to 42 million broilers next year because we have two hatcheries coming next year…that means colossal sums of money is going to be invested in the sector,” Ngosa said.

“We have seen the level where our milling companies have improved, they have reached international standards in terms of quality, the breeders have also reached international status and hence we seem to be the focus of the region… maybe except South Africa, the rest of the countries in the region are looking to us.”

Ngosa said Zambia’s annual consumption had been growing by an average 20 per cent.

He also said the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remained the prime export destination for the country’s poultry products while other destinations included Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and other countries in the region.

Ngosa however said PAZ was studying the Angolan market, which he said had a lot of constraints.

And Ngosa, who is also the vice chairperson of LWG, said there was lack of political will in the country to help deal with livestock disease outbreaks.

“The livestock industry and the government should set up an Animal Disease Control Emergency Fund independent of the normal government annual budgetary financial allocation system to allow for short notice access in the event of disease outbreak,” said Ngosa.

“Lack of livestock disease emergency preparedness in the country results in long delays in responding to outbreaks and ultimately spreads diseases that could be easily and quickly controlled.”