By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE poultry industry in Zambia has posted a four per cent increase in chicken production in the last one year.
At least 78 million broilers were produced by the sector last year compared to the 73 million that were produced the previous year.
The sector has also witnessed an increased demand for exotic birds and free-range chickens.
Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) executive director Dominic Chanda said in an interview that despite 2015 being a tough year for farmers, chicken production increased by four per cent.
He said over 78 million broilers and about 24 million free-range chickens were produced last year.
“The year 2015 was tough for farmers due to the high cost of production resulting from power cuts and devaluation of the local currency against the United States dollar.
“But despite all these challenges, the sector has continued to grow and last year recorded a growth of four per cent,” he said.
Mr Chanda said the sector was recording high demand for exotic birds which include quails, ducks, turkeys and guinea fowl.
“The demand for exotic birds has increased, and most of our poultry farmers are now into exotic bird production despite chickens being sold more. Consumers are now buying quails, ducks and  other birds,” he said.
He also said the demand for chickens and other birds in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had gone up tremendously.
Mr Chanda said the country was currently exporting 15 to 20 per cent of the chickens produced to the DRC.
Meanwhile, the association has this year recorded low sales of day-old chicks due to the increase in the price of stockfeed.
Mr Chanda said some farmers had failed to reinvest in chicken production due to the high cost of feed.
He said the cost of feed in the past one year rose by 72 per cent, with a 50 kilogramme bag now costing over K260.