SA’s chicken industry in crisis state
"We are an efficient industry, but we cannot compete against imports dumped below the cost of production, or from countries with a long history of agricultural subsidies." - Izaak Breitenbach.
THE crisis facing South Africa’s chicken industry is getting worse.
That’s according to the general manager of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), Izaak Breitenbach.
“Every ton of imports represents South African jobs lost or not created. SAPA has calculated that we could create 30 000 jobs by replacing chicken imports.”
Read also – Are you complying with the Minimum Wage Act?
Breitenbach said imports in 2018 were 19 per cent higher than the five-year average from 2013 to 2017. Imports of frozen bone-in portions went up 23.2 per cent to 287 071 tons in 2018.
“The relentless surge of imports illustrates the need for the government to step in and protect the local industry and the thousands of jobs involved. We are an efficient industry, but we cannot compete against imports dumped below the cost of production, or from countries with a long history of agricultural subsidies.”
You might also be interested in –TAKE NOTE: Hill’s Pet Nutrition announces urgent recall of canned foods
He said Brazil has become the dominant source of imported chicken, accounting for 60.5 per cent of poultry imports in 2018. Poultry imports from Brazil increased from 241 180 tons in 2015 to 348 155 tons last year.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
