The Poultry Shop

TIP: How to protect your chickens from mosquitos

The onset of the rains is a welcome development for any farmer. However, the poultry farmer needs to be wary of the prevalence of mosquitos during this rainy season and the diseases that come along, especially fowl pox.

Fowl pox is a highly contagious viral infection in poultry that causes painful sores on a chicken’s skin. The virus is transmitted to chickens by biting insects, most notably…

TIP: Protecting your chickens from mosquitos

The onset of the rains is a welcome development for any farmer. However, the poultry farmer needs to be wary of the prevalence of mosquitos during this rainy season and the diseases that come along, especially fowl pox.

Fowl pox is a highly contagious viral infection in poultry that causes painful sores on a chicken’s skin. The virus is transmitted to chickens by biting insects, most notably…

NGOs call for indigenous chickens

A Bulawayo-based farmer’s organisation, Matabeleland Goat Sheep Poultry Trust (MGSPT) is in the process of compiling a list of indigenous chicken breeders in the Matabeleland region with an aim of supplying a consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as part of their poverty alleviation programme in remote areas.

MGSPT board secretary Mr Kindman Ndlovu said the organisation has entered…

Vakayi Capital invests in hatchery firm

Venture capital firm, Vakayi Capital, has concluded an investment project that will see Ruwa-based hatchery – ZimAvian (Pvt) Ltd – doubling its output. ZimAvian, established in 2014, is a certified Hi-line distributor and poultry hatchery that produces broiler and layer day-old chicks which it mainly supplies to small scale poultry farmers.

The firm, however, needs an extra $250,000 capital…

Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust (ZCSOT) is planning to build an abattoir and purchase pullets for table egg farming, packing and distribution.

Mimosa Mine gave a 10% stake to Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust following the gazetting of a law by the government requiring mining companies to help local communities develop. In a notice, the Trust invited bidders for a short-term…

Upcoming Training: Egg Handling & Incubation

The Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Association will be hosting a training workshop on egg handling and incubation. Over the years, quite a number of poultry farmers in Zimbabwe have been setting up hatcheries –  a privileged venture for a few large businesses back in the days.

If you have an interest in this area or need to expand your knowledge and share ideas with fellow chicken farmers, then this…

Youths in Chipinge have called on government to consider them in Command Agriculture programmes. The call was made during a Youth in Business Consultative Forum that was organized by the Ministry of Youths, Sports, Arts and Recreation in Chipinge recently.

The youths expressed interest in the programme in order to widen their income base. Youths complained of being left out of government programs…

In a circulated Notice recently, the Competition and Tariff Commission is advising all interested stakeholders and the general public that in terms of Section 28(2) of the Competition Act (Chapter 14:28), the Competition and Tariff Commission has commenced an investigation into an alleged restrictive practice into the distribution of stock feeds. It is alleged that distribution of day old chicks…

Assistant Processing Plant Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES.

Successful candidate will assist in the Factory Operations Manager in managing day to day operations of the Plant through carrying out any or all of the following tasks as may be delegated from time to time:

1. Production and Maintenance management 2. Managing performance in all sections and ensuring set targets are met or exceeded 3. Budgets Preparation and cost management 4…

Poultry Association seeks extension of duty waiver on imports of fertilised eggs

Zimbabwe Poultry Association has called on government to extend the suspension of import duty on fertilised eggs in order to help industry restock and recover following the outbreak of bird flu last year.

In an industry update, Poultry Association chairman, Mr Solomon Zawe said they have since presented a position paper to government for consideration to have the the import duty waiver renewed.

“…

[Download] – 2018 Monetary Policy Statement

Monetary Policy Statement Key Highlights:

Exports up by 37% from 2.54bn in 2016 to $3.475bn in 2017

80% of total mineral exports were from gold, diamond, tobacco, nickel and ferrochrome

Imports up by 4.5% from $4.722bn in 2016 to $4.932bn in 2017

Trade deficit down from $2.181bn in 2016 to $1.456bn in 2017

Debt inflows decreased from $544.7mln in 2016 to $315.6mln in 2017

Net Foreign Direct…

The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services issued a public notice a few days ago officially declaring an end to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu in domestic poultry in Zimbabwe.

“Effective 31st January, 2018, this notice serves as an official declaration of the end of the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu outbreak that hit our country over the period May to August,…

MASVINGO – It was all smiles for women groups from all the 26 constituencies in Masvingo who received over 3,000 day-old chicks courtesy of the The First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa’s women empowerment program.

The donation was the first batch of day-old chicks delivered and the First Lady promised to donate more chicks as part of ensuring women are financially empowered to fend for their families…

It’s encouraging to note that Zimbabweans are slowly embracing free range chicken production as a serious income stream. Efforts by stakeholders in the poultry industry, and particularly the call by the Zimbabwe Free Range Poultry Producers Association (ZFRPA) for smallholder farmers to commercialise indigenous poultry birds for the betterment of their lives is slowly bearing fruits.

Reports…

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned the public of the coming of a heatwave to be experienced in some parts of the country starting today, particularly in Beitbridge, where maximum temperatures are forecast to go up to 41 degrees celsius. The local weather conditions are being influenced by a tropical cyclone anchored in south east Madagascar.

In light of these developments, I…

Key Mentions for the Poultry Sector in the 2018 National Budget Statement:

Whereas other meat products such as beef, chicken and pork are exempt from VAT, meat of goats and sheep is liable to a 15% standard rate of VAT.

Adequate preparations are key for a successful agricultural season. Accordingly, and in collaboration with the private sector, Government support will see the 2018 Budget allocate…