Aug 13 2012

feed shortage slashes poultry farm output in Iraq by more than half

By Ali Shattab

Azzaman, August 13, 2012

Feed shortages have reduced Iraq’s poultry output and may threaten the industry with collapse, said state-run Company for Animal Wealth Services.

The company’s Director General Musdiq Dalphi attributed the crisis to the disturbances in Syria, which are preventing the flow of feeds to the country.

Dalphi said Iraq imported more than 60% of poultry feed from Syria and the crisis there has resulted in a total halt in imports.

The imports from Syria were much cheaper than other countries and their halt has led to substantial hikes in poultry produce and animal feed, he said.

“Currently, Iraqi poultry farms can hardly meet 25% of domestic needs,” he said.

The company, Dalphi said, has sent a plan to the Ministry of Agriculture with details on how to replace imports from Syria.

Without large subsidies it is almost impossible to supply Iraqi poultry farmers with feed that is as cheap as that imported from Syria.

There are 7,000 poultry farms in Iraq but they still have a long way to go to meet domestic demand for chicken and table eggs.

Currently Iraq imports large quantities of chicken and eggs to meet domestic demand.

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