By Mutale Kapekele
 |
| Given Lubinda |
The ministry of agriculture will not issue any import
permits for poultry products without consulting the Poultry Association of
Zambia (PAZ), Given Lubinda has directed.
Lubinda, who is agriculture minister, made the directive
during the official opening of the 2015 PAZ Annual General Meeting that took
place on Friday 19th June in Lusaka.
He said poultry imports will not develop the country and
that it will destroy local industry. Lubinda tasked the PAZ to monitor any
suspicious imports of poultry products and alert the ministry for action.
On the importation of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM),
Lubinda informed members of PAZ that his ministry will engage the ministry of
finance and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to develop specific codes for
identifying MDM and avoid confusing the commodity for chicken.
He also disclosed that his ministry was currently engaging
with chain stores to buy poultry locally in order to protect local farmers.
Speaking earlier, Zambia National Farmers Union president,
Dr Evelyn Nguleka and appealed to the Government to address the issue of cheap
poultry import, which said had the potential to destroy the local poultry
industry.
On the issue of poultry statistics, the Lubinda urged
players in the poultry sector to ensure that they provided the Government with
transparent and accurate statistics in order to inform policy formulation.
The Minister also announced that his ministry was working on
the Livestock Development Bill with poultry regulations as well as import
protocols.
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