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The Zimbabwe Poultry Association says its members are targeting to produce over 60 million day-old chicks this year, up from around 40 million last year. Zimbabwe has a combined hatching capacity of 76 million day-old chicks per annum. Over the years, cheap imported chickens have flooded the local market edging out local producers who encountered high production costs as the country experienced an economic meltdown caused by illegal sanctions imposed by the West. The re-introduction of surtax on chicken and other goods to promote local industry has, however, revived domestic production.

ZPA chairperson Mr Solomon Zawe told New Ziana poultry production was going up.
“We are targeting to produce over 60 million day-old chicks this year compared to around 40 million chicks produced last year,” he said.
Mr Zawe hailed farmers for keeping the industry going, but urged them to be more efficient to realise better retains.

“The price of chicken has been stagnant, but grain prices are moving everyday. We have educated our farmers to be more efficient to realise better retains,” Mr Zawe said. — New Ziana.