Has the ANC government culled the poultry industry?
23 October 2023
The DA has conducted a biosecurity compliant oversight visit to Eagle’s Pride Hatchery farm in Roodeplaat, Pretoria to assess the impact of the avian flu outbreak on its poultry stock.
Consistent with the disease outbreak trends reported across South Africa, we were informed that, while they had enforced strict biosecurity measures – as mandated by the veterinary services – the farm had no choice but to cull all of its breeder stock and started importing eggs for broiler chickens. With H7N6 strain, the poultry farms are incurring financial and potential job losses.
Under these grim conditions, which affect South Africa’s entire poultry sector, the threat to food security is exponentially high. While egg and chicken cuts supply are still relatively stable, prices have soared substantially – adding t the cost-of-living crisis in the country. This carries significant risk for most households, who rely on chicken products as their main source of protein. According to the South Africa Poultry Association (SAPA), even if the avian flu outbreak were to be contained today – it will take farmers at least a year to reach their pre-outbreak levels of production.
In a presentation before Parliament’s portfolio committee on Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development recently , the DDG in the Department insinuated that the government is under no obligation to support farmers who have been forced to cull their stock. The DA completely rejects this position, and we demand that a poultry industry recovery fund be implemented as a matter of urgency. Avian influenza is obliterating our farming sector, and we need urgent measures to support our farmers before it is destroyed.