In an interview with Flava News, Poultry Association of Zambia President Dominic Chanda has highlighted the pressing concerns faced by poultry farmers due to ongoing load shedding. Mr. Chanda states that the reduction in energy availability has forced farmers to resort to costly alternatives such as charcoal, exacerbating deforestation and climate change issues.
Mr. Chanda says the current market conditions have worsened, with consumers scaling back on purchasing chickens in bulk due to concerns over refrigeration during power outages, leading to plummeting prices.
Addressing the recurrent issue of load shedding, Mr. Chanda urged fellow farmers to explore alternative energy sources like solar power. He also called upon the government to consider measures to lower the costs of such alternative energy solutions, facilitating their adoption among poultry farmers.
The poultry industry in Zambia faces a critical juncture, with the need for sustainable energy solutions paramount to weathering the challenges posed by erratic power supply.