Rwanda: Govt to Import Chicks From Malawi

In a bid to close the gap of chicken scarcity on the market, the Rwandan government intends to import fast growing chicks from Malawi.

The government has also cleared private investors to start importing poultry and its products from Malawi.

If they are shipped, then this will be the first consignment of chicks into the country after government slammed a ban on importing chicken and its products in 2005. The ban was to protect the local poultry and the people of Rwanda from the deadly avian flu which kills both people and birds.

Stenbock Oleg, one of the prominent poultry dealers in the country, said at least 2,000 chicks are to be imported weekly.

Thoegene Rutagwenda, Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority Chairman said Malawi is among the few countries in Africa that have been declared bird flu free threat.

However, he added that the demand for chicks in Malawi is very high, and asked Rwandans be patient. "It would take time to supply the country, the competition is so high, but we have been listed," Rutagwenda said.

Govt hatchery

Prior to the outbreak of the avian scourge, the government had developed the country's single hatchery at Rubirizi sector, in Kigali city. This hatchery could provide about 10,000 chicks per day.

But it had to stop production because the parent stock used be imported from Europe, a continent hit by avian flu.

Prices soar

The scarcity of local chicks is also being felt. A local chicken that used to cost Frw1,200 before the ban now costs up to Frw4000. Meaning the cost has outweighed the nutritional value of chicken, yet those who can afford are not having value for money.

At one of the restaurants in town, clients were heard complaining that the chicken is hard, "it is tough," they said. Perhaps the restaurants could only provide local chicken to its clients.

Bird flu threat

The fights against the possible outbreak of bird flu in the country had included the community.

In some agriculture ministry laboratories dead birds that had eaten poisoned mice caused panic among the community thinking Rwanda had been hit by the scourge. However laboratory tests found out that the birds had been poisoned. However track for any possible cases still continues.