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THE poultry industry has recorded unprecedented demand for chicken meat and other products, resulting in players in the sector embarking on various expansion programmes.
As a result the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) has spent US$160 million on its expansion projects in the industry in the last three years.
PAZ executive manager Matthew Ngosa said the association was investing huge resources in the expansion of hatcheries and breeding farms to meet the growing demand of chicken meat on the market.
Mr Ngosa attributed the demand in chicken meat to the rise in beef prices in the country which he said were not affordable to most Zambians.
“So as a country we are repositioning ourselves to meet this kind of pressure to supply the chicken meat. Obviously the demand for chicken is due to the rise in beef prices which is beyond the common Zambian, making the chicken meat affordable,” Mr Ngosa said.
Speaking at the just-ended 87th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show, Mr Ngosa said PAZ also had an opportunity for business in the hospitality industry due to the growth of the sector.
“We have also seen another demand which is coming from the growth of the hospitality industry. We seem to be having a lot of business in that industry and chicken is the most affordable in terms of pricing,” he said.
He said there had been an opportunity for the industry to grow, hence committing huge resources in the industry to ensure it was able to meet the demand and supply needs of the country.
A total of US$160 million had been spent on the expansion of hatcheries, establishment of new breeder farms, bringing in processing quipment and improving on various facilities in the industry.
The expansion projects were expected to create over 30,000 permanent jobs for the local people in the country.
Mr Ngosa cited the $17 million of the Ross Breeders and another $20 million Hybrid projects as good examples of the poultry industry expansion programmes.
Another project which would have a carrying capacity of 50,000 layers at once was coming on stream on the Copperbelt.
He said there were a number of developments taking place in the industry, adding that the association was repositioning itself and improving its technology.
