Production in the local poultry industry has declined by 35 per cent in the last six months due the high cost of feed, Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) executive manager, Mathews Ngosa has told The Times of Zambia.

Mr Ngosa said as a result, the industry's annual production capacity will this year reduce from the projected 32 million to as low as 22 million birds.

He said that most hatcheries had either scaled down or temporarily suspended production until the prices of feed comprising mainly soy stabilised.

"Production has scaled down in the last six months due to the high cost of stockfeed and low demand of the products," Mr Ngosa said.

About 70 per cent of the feed is made up of soy and last year's low yields had greatly affected production of chickens in the sector.

This has also seen the prices of chickens and other poultry products skyrocket in the last six months, making it impossible for the industry players to remain sustainable.

Mr Ngosa said the sector might not even achieve its export targets for this year until demand as well as feed prices improved.

The industry's main export markets includes Congo DR, the southern and east African markets of mainly Tanzania and Uganda.

Mr Ngosa was, however, optimistic that the prices of soy and other inputs in the production of feed would stabilise, especially with the coming of the new crop this harvest season.

"The industry looks set to be salvaged, especially with the coming of the new crop this harvesting season," he told The Times.