Executive manager, Mathews Ngosa, said the training would encompass cost-saving strategies to mitigate the current high prices of stock feed.

Mr Ngosa said in an interview yesterday that the farmers would receive tips on improved production efficiency, market strategies and entrepreneurship development.

“The association has started the training of farmers to improve production and stimulate the market in order to sustain the projected 20 per cent growth in the industry,” he said.

The industry, which has been hit by a shortage of stock feed resulting in some unscrupulous farmers using sub-standard feeding materials, has so far increased its daily production capacity to more than 600 chicks, reports the Times of Zambia.

Mr Ngosa said the increase was as a result of the ongoing expansion programme.

The local poultry industry is slated to increase production to as much as 33 million birds per annum, from the current 26 million.

The industry has, however, had a sluggish performance in the export market which has dwindled.

The main export markets for Zambia’s birds are Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.