Tanzania's ban on poultry has raised the chicken price to $4.5 per kg
Tanzania has played the card of protectionism in front of poultry imports and is now paying the price, literally. Retail price for chicken meat has risen sharply by more than 60%, months after the local government imposed a ban on poultry products imports from neighbouring countries in East Africa, reports All Africa magazine.
Hotels and food shops across the country are now feeling the effect as local producers have stopped production of day-old chicks, leading to a shortage of broilers and layers.
According to Manase Mrindwa, secretary general of the Tanzania Poultry Breeders Association, high taxation for imported parent-stock has limited the projected production of broilers for this year due to the fact that a single parent stock is sold now at a price of $5 to $10, which is far beyond the financial power of small farmers.
Due to the sortage of chicken meat in the market, prices for broiler have jumped in the last few month from $2.8 to $4.5 and the situation doesn't present an immediate solution as the domestic production covers only 85% of the demand. Two years ago, Tanzania banned the poultry imports from the US with the intention to protect the local farmers. At the same time, trade with neighbouring countries in East Africa was deteriorated when Tanzania declined to ratify a regional agreement which allows the East Africa Community (EAC) partner states to share veterinary services.
The failure by Tanzania to approve the Mutual Recognition Agreement for East African Vets, which came into force in 2016, has made it difficult for other EAC member states to export chicken to Tanzania.
The agreement provides that any EAC member state can import or export chicken and livestock within the region as long as the animals have been tested by a veterinary professional from any of the signatory countries.
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