Power cuts hit Zambia’s poultry sector, bulk buying drops sharply
Persistent electricity outages are disrupting the poultry supply chain, raising costs and forcing changes in consumer buying habits.
ZAMBIA – Frequent power outages across Zambia have disrupted the poultry industry, forcing households to adjust how they buy chicken.
The country’s cold-chain system is under pressure as refrigerators and freezers fail to maintain safe temperatures during load shedding, prompting consumers to purchase smaller quantities for immediate use rather than bulk orders.
This shift in buying behavior has reduced bulk demand, leaving farmers with birds that remain on farms far beyond their optimal market age, sometimes up to 12 extra weeks.
Extended on-farm periods increase feed expenses, heighten the risk of disease, compromise meat quality, and strain limited housing for poultry.
Small- and medium-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable as most do not have access to backup power, making it difficult to operate incubators, brooding lamps, and ventilation systems.
Those who do use generators face rising costs for fuel and maintenance, which further squeeze already narrow profit margins.
Processing plants and abattoirs are struggling to maintain cold storage and hygiene standards, while reduced bulk sales limit their operational efficiency and earnings.
Economic Pressures Mount
The combined effect has created uncertainty across the sector, with many producers hesitant to invest in new batches of birds due to unstable demand and unreliable electricity supply.
Earlier this year, the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) reported underperformance in the first quarter, with production figures falling below expectations for the past two years.
PAZ Executive Manager Dominic Chanda told News Diggers that power cuts, a weakening Zambian kwacha, and flooding in key farming areas contributed to the downturn.
He explained that ongoing load shedding has disrupted electricity-dependent operations in hatcheries, broiler farms, and processing facilities.
At the same time, the kwacha’s continued decline has increased the local cost of imported feed components and poultry equipment, which are priced in foreign currencies, raising production expenses in US dollars.
The association also mentioned shortages of critical raw materials for feed production, including soya and maize, limiting feed mills’ capacity to meet the sector’s requirements.
Flooding in agricultural regions has worsened conditions by damaging infrastructure, destroying crops, and making land unsuitable for farming, compounding the challenges faced by producers.
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