BusinessLive reports that Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, who in December increased tariffs on imported chicken portions, says the government is aware of the crisis facing the poultry industry and is tackling it on various fronts.  

He said on Sunday that his department was aware of the influx of bone-in portion chicken portions, particularly from the EU and Brazil, and was considering designating chicken as one of the products that government departments and state entities would be required to procure locally.  The department has a dedicated unit focused on the poultry industry.  Also, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is involved in a number of projects to support local producers and to provide feed for the poultry industry.  Meantime, Kevin Lovell of the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) has insisted that the 13.9% duty granted by Davies in December was "grossly inadequate", far too late and would not work.  If it was not increased, the impact on the industry — which is already in the process of closing plants and retrenching workers —would be devastating, he said.

• Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive
• See too, Poultry sector calls for more protection, at eNCA
• And also, Govt can save poultry sector as job losses loom, says Fawu, at Fin24

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