Lubango - Huíla province produced a total of 1.8 million eggs in the first half of this year, compared to the 523,921 produced in the same period in 2023, which represents only one percent of the local market's needs, the head of the local Veterinary Services Institute, José Chicomo said Thursday.
Chicomo said the production is concentrated in the municipalities of Lubango (two aviaries), Humpata (three), Matala, Chibia, Cuvango and Caluquembe, with one each.
According to Chicomo, the increase is due to the improvement in the genetics of the species of chickens they are producing, as production used to be done with dual-purpose, but now they are separating broilers from layers.
He said that the nine private companies registered to produce have an installed capacity of 133,000 eggs per day, but are currently producing 63,108 eggs/day.
The reasons for this low production, according to the veterinarian, include the high cost of feed, purchase of breeding stock, which has to be imported, coupled with labor and infrastructure maintenance.
"The market needs for egg production in Huíla are estimated at 35.830 million units per day, depending on the population and the number of people who have to eat the food every day," he said.
He pointed out that the province has five or more other companies producing eggs unable to operate due to the high price of feed, difficulties in acquiring breeding stock which has to be imported from Namibia or Portugal, forcing them to halt production activities over a year ago.
Broiler production is low
José Chicomo said the quality of the meat is still not the best, as production should take less time, since chicken is a meat that takes a maximum of three months, but is currently being produced in 90 to 120 days, and the market does not yet have the desired storage capacity.
Self-sufficiency depends on more investment
In order to achieve self-sufficiency in both products, José Chicomo spoke of the need for more investment in poultry farming, infrastructure, human resources, genetics and an increase in production rates.
He also expressed the urgency of improving domestic corn production, both for family consumption and so that there are surpluses for feed production, as well as producing sufficient quantities of vaccines and the drugs needed to treat and prevent poultry diseases.
"We still have to think about starting to produce raw materials, we can't depend on imports, for example, premix is a material that we can produce locally and limestone is one of the elements that is produced in Humpata, as well as increasing the number of companies dedicated to egg and meat production," he said.
He called on entrepreneurs operating in the sector not to give up, to remain resilient so that with the right support they can reach the quantities needed to supply the market, not 100 percent, but at least half.
Huíla province has an estimated population of 3.3 million people spread over its 14 municipalities. EM/MS/TED/AMP
