Egg production increased to 1058.5 million last year up from 899.7 million eggs produced in 2013, reported The Times of Zambia.

The industry recorded a growth of nine per cent in broiler production from 68 million in 2013 to 73.9 million day-old chicks in 2014.

PAZ chairperson Rhodnie Sisala said the industry’s growth was mainly driven by high demand for poultry meat on account of higher prices of other meat products like beef, pork and mutton.

Mr Sisala was speaking at the PAZ 13th annual general meeting in Zambia's capital Lusaka.

He said the rise in demand for chicken meat was compounded by the emergence of African Swine Fever, which affected the pork industry and led to a scarcity of pork products.

He estimated the industry is contributing 42 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of livestock agriculture, making the sector the largest livestock sub-sector in Zambia at the moment.

Mr Sisala said the industry had become vital to the economy as it contributed products of high nutritional value at low cost and created direct and indirect employment for nearly 50,000 people.

Despite the poultry industry recording positive growth during the period under review, it faced a number of challenges, which included the unregulated fees and levies emerging in different district councils which are mounting added costs to the industry.

Other challenges are bird flu, importation of frozen chicken and chicken parts disguised as mechanically deboned meat (MDM), the ban on backyard chicken rearing in Lusaka and Kafue, high cost of inputs and the lack of legislative framework.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda said the ban on backyard poultry production required more reflection, because it was affecting the livelihood of the people.

Mr Lubinda said his ministry would engage the Ministry of Local Government and Housing together with the local authority to find a lasting solution to the issue.