PAZ looks to 2019 National Budget for relief

The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) has expressed hope that the 2019 National Budget to be presented by Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe this Friday will address the challenges inhibiting the growth of the poultry industry.

PAZ Executive Manager Dominic Chanda has told QTV News that poultry farmers in the country expect the zero rating of feed formulation ingredients such as amino acids.

Mr. Chanda is happy that in the 2018 national budget, government reduced tax on premixes by 5 percent.

He says government should this time consider zero rating feed formulation ingredients so that the sector can flourish.

Mr Chanda has further advised government to reduce the number of taxes saying PAZ is ready to help work out modalities that can result in broadening the tax base which will result in more people paying tax.

Meanwhile the Poultry Association of Zambia Executive Manager has urged government to increase funding to the agriculture sector in line with the Maputo declaration which calls for the allocation of 10 percent of the budget to the sector.

Mr. Chanda notes that production especially among the small scale farmers remains too low and this is negatively affecting the value chain.