Huambo - Huambo province is seeking self-sufficiency in poultry and eggs with the creation of a national chicken consortium in February, the region's representative in the National Association of Poultry Farmers (ANAVE), Agripina Mateus, said Saturday.

Speaking to Angop, the businesswoman said the initiative, in line with government strategies, aims to reduce imports of food that can be produced in Angola.

Agripina Mateus added that Huambo province controls about 35 poultry farms, many of which lack raw materials and feed of the quality recommended to increase production.

She said the creation of the consortium would help overcome some of the difficulties farmers face on a daily basis, as many raise broilers and layers with different needs.

Agripina Mateus emphasized that the initiative aims to promote unity and help producers improve the production chain, especially in Huambo province.

The businesswoman said that in the community of Calima, in the municipality of Huambo, she has an aviary with a capacity to produce 20,000 eggs per day, on an area of 900 hectares, with five pavilions (four for laying eggs and one for breeding) for 32,000 birds.

The project, which began in 2014 with funding from Angola Investe, employs 46 workers who take care of 26,000 hens, with an average production of 20,000 eggs per day. JSV/ALH/AMP