North poultry shortage looming

THE northern region of Zambia will experience shortages of poultry products in the next few months if the relevant authorities fail to reposition Hybrid Poultry, the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) has said.
According to the association, Hybrid, which is situated adjacent to China Non-Ferrous Metal Corporation (NFC) mining smelter in Chambishi has been experiencing low chicks production.
Speaking in an interview in Ndola yesterday, PAZ executive manager Mathew Ngosa said relevant authorities, including the Government, should speed up measures to separate hatchery from NFC operations.
Mr Ngosa said the hatchery, which contributes 28 per cent of Zambia’s national chick production, could not operate side by side with a smelter as emissions from the mining facility were affecting the rearing of chickens.
“Despite making numerous submissions to Government, there has been no positive response to this issue and already the spillover effects are beginning to show.
“What we are saying is that this facility cannot operate side by side with the smelter and Hybrid being the only breeder farm in this region, a quick solution must be found so that production is not hampered,” he said.
Mr Ngosa said consumers in places such as Luapula and Northern provinces would be the most affected by the shortage of chickens in the peak period around the festive season.
Meanwhile, Mr Ngosa has said Zambia’s export market for eggs to southern and central Africa only accounts for 10 per cent of the country’s entire production.
“Congo is the only market for our produce and this is obviously due to its proximity to Zambia, so activities are quite slow in the export of eggs at the moment,” he said.