The ManicaPost
Susan Nyamangodo Post Correspondent
POULTTRY production in Manicaland has declined by four percent in output as farmers look elsewhere following the unjustified increase of feed and general production costs.
Manicaland Agritex officer Mrs Philipa Rwambiwa said in the second quarter of 2019, broiler day-old chicks production averaged seven million per month.
She said day-old chicks production of 6, 7 million per month for the period January to June, was the next highest performance after the phenomenal production of 7,3 million per month for the same period in 2018.
“Depreciation of the local currency against the greenback in the second quarter of 2019 continued to exert pressure on stock feed and day-old chick prices in the face of stagnant disposable incomes.
However, demand remained strong largely due to greater increases in prices of alternative livestock proteins, primarily beef, pork and fish.
Dwindling stocks of maize, coupled with restrictions on maize purchases from farmers brought about by the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 implies that the feed sector will need to import maize, which will land in the country at 36 percent higher than the current producer price,” said Mrs Rwambiwa.
“In American dollar terms, producer prices of day-old chicks, broiler meat and table eggs have already declined to less than prevailing prices in neighbouring countries, prompting some breeders and farmers to explore export markets,” she said.
Some poultry farmers revealed that the cost of feed, chicks and vaccines was now beyond their reach.
Mr Musa Bore, a poultry farmer in Risitu said the decrease in production output was largely attributed to rising production costs.
“It seems like the production costs of chickens have gone up leading to one incurring huge loses rather than benefiting from the project,” he said.
Mrs Pamela Sibanda, another farmer from Dora, said farmers should innovate and make use of locally available resources to make cheap stock feeds to cut losses.
“We are now at a point where we must innovate and use cheap available resources like maize and beans to produce stock feeds for our projects to maximise profits.
“The cost of producing 100 broiler chickens can run up to $2000, excluding labour, bedding, medications, heating, water and electricity expenses,” said Pamela Sibanda.
