The Poultry Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has warned poultry producers against buying stockfeeds from unregistered vendors and numerous hardware’s that have sprouted, as some of the feeds were fake.

News Day reports PAZ president, Solomon Zawe, saying producers should do the right thing and not cut corners.

He said poultry producers should buy feed from properly registered companies like Agrifoods, National Foods, Pro-feeds and many other registered and reliable suppliers.

He added: "We encourage poultry producers to practice the proper business ethics in order to avoid losses."

Mr Zawe said they had not yet received complaints from PAZ membership yet, meaning that they were purchasing from licensed producers and suppliers.

"Buying stockfeeds from corners of streets and anonymous hardwares will have one ending up getting the wrong product," said Mr Zawe.

Agrifoods Pvt Ltd trade representative, Roy Chipangura, said the company had so far received a handful of complaints about feeds not producing the desired results.

He explained the complaints they had received were emanating from customers that would have purchased the feeds from vendors.

He said: "We encourage farmers to buy feeds from the correct outlets to ensure good results," and added that many poultry producers were quick to blame producers each time they encountered problems yet this could be a development not associated with producers.

"Farmers should bring the feeds for re-examination if they feel the stockfeeds were not up to standard but none has come forward so far," said Mr Chipangura.

He told News Day that farmers at times resorted to buying from vendors, who in most instances, sell at a cheaper price only to discover the products were fake.

Mr Chipangura concluded: "We have seen the Poultry Association of Zimbabwe conducting awareness programmes to educate poultry producers to be aware of such things. The company continues to educate our valued customers to come to our outlets to purchase their stockfeeds."