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Retired Colonel George Nare

Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Poultry Farmers’ Association has welcomed the suspension of import duty on fertilised poultry eggs for six months to revive poultry production following recent successive outbreaks of Avian Influenza in the country.

In May and July, Zimbabwe was hit by two outbreaks of the bird flu at Irvine’s Lanark Farm near Harare. As a result of the highly pathogenic diseases, about 215 000 birds were culled to contain the outbreaks.

Latest reports indicate that Government, in a statutory instrument published in the Government Gazette last Friday, listed six poultry importers that were exempt from paying duty.

“Duty is wholly suspended on fertilised poultry eggs for hatching of tariff code 0407,11,00 imported by approved poultry breeders, for a period of six months with effect from August 1, 2017,” The Source reported yesterday.

The approved poultry breeders are Irvine’s Zimbabwe (432 000 ring fenced fertilised poultry eggs per week), Supa Chicks (160 000) and Chinyika Chicks (100 000).

Dr Henn (90 000), Zim Avian (40 000) and All Avian (30 000) are also part of the list.

Zimbabwe Poultry Farmers Association chairman Retired Colonel George Nare said yesterday that the decision to exempt fertilised poultry eggs imports from paying duty, was a step in the right direction.

“The suspension of import duty on fertilised eggs is a welcome development. However, we feel this should be extended to at least a year because six months is too short a period if we are to promote the survival of the sector given the devastating impact of the bird flu,” he said.

Rtd Col Nare said as a result of the Avian Influenza, the price of day old chicks on the market had gone up from between $65 and $70 per 100 chicks to $90.

He said supply of the chicks by local producers had also gone down and as such poultry farmers were no longer able to meet their customers’ demand.

“As an association, we are worried as the shortage of day old chicks on the market is likely to push the price of chicken up,” said Ret Col Nare.