Federation of Kenya Poultry Farmers has asked the Department of Veterinary Services and Department of Livestock Production to temporarily suspend the importation of processed poultry products from all the East African Communities countries.
The farmer lobby group cited an oversupply claiming that if imports are allowed into the country, farmers will sell their processed meat at throwaway prices.
In a letter to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and Department of Livestock Production (DLP), the lobby group, “urgently” requested that the importation of poultry meat and poultry products be suspended on the weight of oversupply of broilers in the local market.
“Local production has been more than market demand since last month, due to the call by the President Uhuru Kenyatta for farmers to increase production during Covid-19, 2020,” the Federation Kenya Poultry Farmers told DVS and DLP.
In April, President Uhuru Kenyatta urged farmers to increase production so that Kenyans don’t get hungry during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I encourage our traders and farmers in fresh produce to continue with their agricultural activities, so as to ensure the continued supply of the farm produce to our markets,” said Uhuru.
In a press statement issued by Kenya Poultry Breeders Association, in the same month, also urged poultry farmers to increase production, “we foresee a massive shortage of chicken and egg supply in the next coming months due to decline in day-old chicks placement over the past three weeks. Therefore, we are encouraging our farmers not to stop the chicken business. The government has laid down measures to ensure poultry farming will not be interrupted including feed supply and chicken distribution.”
Monica Wanjiru, the President of Federation of Poultry Farmers said Kenya has a surplus of 253 days in chicken inventory. This means that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the projected supply of poultry products will be good to last at least until the second half of 2021.
“The COVID-19 crisis has severely aggravated the situation with the closure of hotels, restaurants, and other institutional buyers coupled with the restrictions in the movement of goods and people,” Wanjiru said.
As of May 20, the inventory for dressed chicken frozen inventory stood at 71.86 million kilos, a data from the Kenya Poultry and Breeders Association (KPBA). This according to only cold storage facilities accredited by the KPBA.
“In order to preserve the remaining production potential for 2020, the importation of poultry meat and poultry products must cease as soon as possible so that the industry, especially those at the breeder stage of the value chain, can hold on until times are less volatile,” the lobby group said.
The group pointed out that such a request is not unprecedented since poultry associations in Europe have asked for similar relief to “prevent” an oversupply crisis in the sector during the pandemic.
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