Poultry farmers in Mozambique ask for an end to chicken imports – O País

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Poultry farmers in Mozambique ask for an end to chicken imports – O País

5:12 CAT | 20 May 2020

Photo: O País

There are about 15 large producers in the chicken chain spread across Mozambique’s southern, central and northern regions, but chicken remains a luxury food for many Mozambican families because of its price.

According to the producers, the situation results from unnecessary chicken imports, including smuggling, providing unfair competition for domestic producers.

To consider the problem, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sat down in Chimoio this Friday with members of the Mozambican Poultry Industry Association, who laid out the reasons for chicken remaining so expensive.

According to Zeiss Lacerda, secretary-general of the Mozambican Poultry Industry Association, another concern is the lack of government incentives in the chicken subsector.

Aside from the smuggling situation, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Celso Correia proved himself aware of the problem of chicken imports, especially from America and Brazil via South Africa, and revealed a measure to ban chicken imports until December.

“We have debated extensively over the course of this time, how to make the chicken market self-sufficient, and we believe that, until the end of this year, it is still possible. It is true that we have many constraints, but we believe that it is still possible to celebrate 2021 as the year that we do not need to import chicken,” Minister Correia declared.

In addition to meeting the chicken producers, Minister Correia also visited a milk production unit, and several smallholder associations in the Sussundenga and Vanduzi districts.

By Carlitos Cadangue

Source: O País