High beef price pushes up demand for chicken

COAST REGION: TANZANIA, in recent months, enjoyed an increase in exports of beef but the surge came with a price the trend pushed up demand for alternative meat, particularly chicken.

The country earned 56.58 million US dollars from exporting 13,745.38 tonnes of beef by April, and is projected to increase by 10.6 per cent in the next financial year to 16,450 tonnes valued at 67.8 million tonnes.

“This increase is attributed to government efforts to create a businessfriendly environment that has spurred meat exports,” said the Director of Production and Marketing Development at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Stephen Michael.

Generally, the country’s meat exports up to April comprise 1,024.33 tonnes of beef, 9,982.67 tonnes of goat meat, 3,195.09 tonnes of sheep meat, 32.35 tonnes of chicken and 10.94 tonnes of pork. The move sends spiral effects into the domestic market as the price of beef has climbed to a level which now some locals failed to avoid.

The ‘Business Standard’ spot survey showed that the chicken demand has risen exponentially driven by the high price for beef.

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According to the survey, in various parts of Dar es Salaam city, beef ranges between 9,000/- and 12,000/- per kilogramme while broiler chicken is sold between 7,000/- and 8,000/-, though slightly less than a kilo. “Demand for chicken has increased due to rising beef price.

The rising prices have made people shift demand to chicken,” Mr Thabit Batenga, an expert of Farm Consultant told Business Standard.

The chicken demand, due to the beef price rise, could be the perfect time for poultry keepers to capitalise and make money. The problem is, the supply is not meeting the demand.

According to Mr Batenga, the current broiler chick demand stands at 1.2 million while the supply is 0.9 million chicks per week.

“This chick mismatch backpedals small scale poultry keepers desire to increase production to meet demand…,” Mr Batenga said.

“Since parent stock producers and agents have been supplying chicks to giant farmers leaving the small-scale poultry farmers without chicks.” Due to this situation, small-scale poultry farmers have requested the government to at least allow the importation of chicks to meet the market demand. Ms Mary John the poultry farmer said she pressed an order almost four weeks ago until on Monday she did not get any chicks or feedback.

“I am still waiting for either answer…while at the expense of my capital,” she said, “It is a matter of time before I run out of capital.” Ms John, a resident from Mpiji Magohe, Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam said the decreased supply of chicks started in April and the situation has remained the same to date.

Eutropia Mtokambali, a farmer in Kinyerezi, Ilala, Dar es Salaam said that in their area chicks were becoming as rare as pearl.

“We are struggling to get chicks as suppliers have reduced supply. Some farmers have decided to close their business until August when chicks will be available,” she noted.

Mr Lameck Kimario, the chicken broker at Shekilango market said that the price of chicken has gone up by around 30 per cent due to the scarcity of the birds.

He said they are currently selling broiler chicken between 8,000/- to 9,000/- depending on the size of the chicken.

“To meet demand some poultry keepers are forced to sell the birds while at three weeks… are too small to put on market,” Mr Kimario said.

A Veterinarian from Makika Trinity Enterprises, James Simon said that the shortage of chicks came due to the winter season as well as spring.

Mr Simon said that during the winter parent chicken reduced production thus causing the shortage of chicks in the market. He said in the middle of July and August the chicks might be available and also the price will become low.

According to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in 2023/24 up to April a total of 95,584,347 chicks were produced and distributed in the country among them 73,481,572 chicks were broiler.

Out of that, a total of 2,701,429 chicks were exported to Zambia, Belgium, Kenya, France, Poland and the United Kingdom. Moreover, the 499,950 parent stock broilers were imported.