PROLONGED LOADSHEDDING REDUCES UPTAKE OF FISH,CHICKEN IN ZAMBIA -BUSINESS TITANS


PROLONGED LOADSHEDDING REDUCES UPTAKE OF FISH,CHICKEN

By Alfonso  Kasongo



Zambia, like many other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, experienced the El-nino weather conditions, causing a drought which has triggered  power deficit challenges with reciprocal effects on the economy.

The drought situation country has sharply reduced country's hydro-power generation capacity of about 3,356.6 MW to an estimated 750 MW deficit resulting in 23 hour power outrage-unprecedented load management in the country's history.

Fisho Mwale ,a titan of Zambian business sector with ineradicable and illustrious career spanning for over four decades says the impact of prolonged load-shedding has negatively impacted many businesses,including  those dealing in high perishables products.

Mr Mwale who is founder and chairman for Yalelo Fish Company,adds that fish business like  any other in food production ,processing and distribution has not been spared from the impact of load-shedding.

However,Mr. Mwale explains that there has been a notable reduction in retail sales hence affecting  harvesting of the fish.

"for us we continuously  aspire to ensure that we put on the market fresh products of highest standard," our problem is our consumers,they are unable to buy a lot of quantities.They buy in smaller quantity meaning we pushing less tonnage on the market because people are in day-to-day basis."

In that respect there is a noticeable slow down in terms of sales.It means our cost keeps going high.if we don't harvest our first it means the fish remains in the water,we are incurring added cost to feed the fish."
So generally,our costs are going up across the board, Mr Mwale explains.

And Poultry Association of Zambia Chief Executive Officer  Dominic Chanda is concerned  that the poultry sector is likely not only going to register a slow growth this year but also poor profit margins for farmers.

Mr Chanda attributes the anticipated slow growth rate and poor profit margins to increase in cost of production triggered by the switch to use of alternative sources of energy due to prolonged  load-shedding.
The association has observed a huge shift to alternative energy which it says is  thrice expensive than hydro power.


Mr Chanda laments  that the alternative energy doesn't provide adequate energy to grow the chicken hence farmers to keep them for more that required periods.
"The effects of load shedding are not different.For us the devastating impact has been on different levels along supply chain.if we concentrate on production perspective,we have hatchers who have gone into using diesel and other alternative sources of energy increasing three-times cost of electricity." Mr. Chanda said.

He also mentioned that the Association has observed significant reduction in the purchase of chickens during the period of extended loadshedding as consumers are no longer buying in bulk.

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