The Zimbabwe Poultry Association (ZPA) reports that the poultry industry has shown resilience against the impacts of the El Niño-induced drought this year, successfully meeting the national requirement of nearly 100 million day-old chicks.
Zimbabwe, along with other countries in southern Africa, faced a drought this year due to El Niño, resulting in the destruction of most crops and pastures and the depletion of water sources.
In an interview, ZPA chairman Mr. Solomon Zawe stated that despite the drought, poultry farmers have maintained production levels in alignment with the annual requirement of nearly 100 million day-old broiler chicks. “We have successfully maintained our production levels within the annual national requirement of 100 million day-old chicks despite the drought, as producers have diversified their feed sources to reduce reliance on drought-affected crops,” he explained.
For example, stock feed manufacturers have incorporated alternative feed ingredients, such as sunflower meal, into their production processes. “We have been able to produce an average of eight million day-old broiler chicks per month, with a quarter of that number allocated for layers, which is also a positive contribution toward meeting local egg supply,” he added.
Agriculture is one of Zimbabwe’s key economic sectors, projected to grow into a US$13.75 billion industry by next year. Farmers in both crop and livestock production are expected to invest more in value addition as mandated by the government. In 2021, the sector reached the initial target of US$8.2 billion, driven by improved productivity and performance across all sub-sectors.
Looking ahead, Mr. Zawe emphasized the importance of advancing poultry production to ensure sufficient supplies in the market. “By 2025, we aim to maintain a positive growth trajectory in the poultry sector to ensure adequate supplies of chicken and eggs in the local market and reduce imports,” he stated.
In the 2025 national budget statement, Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube projected that the agriculture sector would recover from a 15 percent contraction this year and grow by 12.8 percent in 2025. He noted that interventions in the agriculture sector would be guided by the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy, as well as the Agriculture Recovery and Growth Plan.
