ZAMBIA RAISES OVER 16M BIRDS ANNUALLY

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 12:19:37 +0000

By Buumba Chimbulu

ZAMBIA is currently growing over 16 million birds annually signifying the huge potential that the poultry industry has in contributing to the country’s export volumes, says Minister of Livestock, Michael Katambo.

Mr. Katambo explained that the over 16 million birds included village chickens, broilers and quails among others.

He said Zambia was self-sufficient with poultry products, as the country produced over 200 million eggs on an annual basis with an investment of over K1 billion.

“As a country we are producing over 200 million eggs, we are also producing over 16 million birds meaning broilers or layers and Zambia has the potential and even now as I speak, we do export birds to Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),

Mr. Katambo encouraged farmers to continue growing birds and other poultry products to contribute to Zambia’s export volumes.  “As a country we are self-sufficient with poultry products so we are able to sustain ourselves with what we grow in the country.

And commenting on the fresh outbreak of bird flu in South Africa, Mr. Katambo said Zambia’s poultry industry was safe as no disease had been recorded.

The minister said Government had stationed veterinary doctors at all entry border posts to ensure that there was no illegal importation of poultry and poultry products.

“So Zambia should not be alarmed because we are safe, there is not an outbreak of this bird flu.  We are monitoring this outbreak to ensure that we are not affected,

“Our mission is to see to it that we protect the poultry industry because it employs quite a huge number of our youths and women. So it has to be protected. There is over K1 billion which is being invested in the industry and so there is need for its protection,” he said.