The high cost of feed has made farmers reduce their day old chick orders. This is according to day old chick agents who further added that this period is normally the beginning of ‘peak period’ when day old chick sales should be at their highest. Not only could this hurt hatcheries but it could also hinder future prospects of poultry farming.
Apart from affecting the hatcheries, the drop in demand may lead to reduced supply of chicken in the sector. Compared to last year the price of broiler chickens is up by 27.7%.
The hike in feed prices is linked to soya prices as well as the price of maize. The weakening of the Kwacha has further added to the millers cost of doing business.
Meanwhile Poultry Association in Solwezi met on 15th October to discuss the possibilities of increasing the market price for the broiler chicken and resolved that the price be adjusted upwards to ZMW47 per broiler live bird. This conclusion was made after calculating their production costs.
Players in the sector reckon that the high cost of doing business is set to slow down poultry business. This certainly hurts a sector like the poultry sector, which has more than doubled in value over the last five years
