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An official from Front Line Feeds said the supplies from Agrifoods and National Foods had returned to normal and poultry feed was now in abundance in the market.
“We have begun to receive steady supply of poultry feed since Monday although we are yet to see if the situation has normalised, since there is usually high demand for poultry feed towards the festive season,” he said.
He said soya bean shortage had triggered the shortage of some feeds resulting in low production of stock feeds by supplier companies.
“Soya beans is a major nutritious ingredient essential in the manufacturing of poultry feed hence shortages of soya beans resulted in erratic supply’s of poultry feed,” he said.
Poultry farmers expressed gratitude in the improved availability of poultry feed in the market.
A poultry farmer, Mr Robert Mpofu said raw materials used to manufacture poultry food should be readily available in order for farmers to remain in business.
“Stock feed manufacturers should ensure improved supply of poultry feed towards the festive season since farmers during the festive season maximise sales hence increased demand,”said Mr Mpofu.
He said the shortage of stock feed had triggered losses since their poultry had lost weight because of being underfed, with some farmers suffering losses of poultry due to starvation.
Another farmer Mrs Sinikiwe Maphosa said the Government should come up with measures to ensure that raw materials in the manufacturing of stock feed are in abundance to avoid a repeat of the same scenario.
“Government should consider that most farmers have joined poultry farming because of high returns in a short period of time.
“Poultry farmers are major contributors to the economy hence the need to prioritise their needs,” said Mrs Maphosa .
She said Government should ban chicken exports since their business was negatively affected by cheap genetically modified imports.
Most commercial farmers have resorted to poultry farming after realising that it has high returns within a short space of time in comparison to crop farming which is affected by inconsistent rainfall patterns in the country.
Online Reporter