Government has lifted the suspension of the issuance of export permits for day old chicks, stockfeed and its ingredients. This is after the exports were suspended after the country started experiencing shortages as well as price escalation.
Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary Benson Mwenya said the suspension of the issuance of export permits for the commodities is still in effect only on paper but in reality, exports are taking place. Mwenya said the issuance of export permits for day old chicks, stockfeed and its ingredients is currently going on and the borders have been relaxed.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mwenya said government through the relevant ministry would soon issue an official statement on the matter. He said the decision to suspend the issuance of export permits was required in order to stabilize the availability and prices of day old chicks and stockfeed because companies were increasing prices almost every week.
He added that the availability of day old chicks and stockfeed was affected and the commodities became expensive because companies were opting to export everything therefore the decision to put in place systems that would enable companies to satisfy the local market before exporting.
“It really helped the industry, prices never went up again after the suspension of exports. Two companies that sent notices that they were going to increase the following week didn’t increase. After that, we said we needed to secure local supply. So it was a very serious move”, he said.
“Look at the maize availability now, you know maize is one of the ingredients for stock feed production but we have got too much maize around so we have opened up for export”, he said.
But analysts have cautioned that this opening up may lead to another wave of day old chicks and livestock shortages as well as price escalation. There is need for putting in place policies and measures that will not see what we experienced repeated.
