The Chairman of the association, George Nare, said high prices of stock feed on the local market was causing viability problems for Zimbabwean poultry producers. In addition to high feed prices, Nare said members of his association were grappling with shortages of drugs and vaccines. "Under the circumstances, importing poultry feed from Botswana and South Africa is the best option because our farmers cannot afford local prices," Nare said. "More farmers are resorting to this option. It is becoming increasingly difficult to run a poultry business because of the high prices of feed as well as drugs. But we are telling our members that it is cheaper to import feed from Botswana or South Africa." Nare said the bulk of the association's members are emergent farmers who have been in the business for about five years. Local stock feed producers and middlemen are selling a 50-kilogramme bag of chicken feed for an average Z$4,5 trillion.
Others are charging 280 in South African rand, 250 in Botswana pula or between US$50 and US$70 for a 50kg bag. Local producers have defended their high prices, saying their own production costs are rising as the economic climate continues to deteriorate: to ensure their own survival, they are pushing whatever costs they incur to farmers.
