The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition has refuted allegations that the government has encouraged poultry farmers to import poultry products from Brazil.

According to the Ministry’s Chief Information Officer, Mr. Lereko Masupha, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Mr. Thabo Mofosi met with senior government officials, poultry industry stakeholders and some local franchisees on Monday evening to discuss the importation of poultry products into the country.

He said poultry farmers and franchisees have asked the government through the Ministry to open borders for poultry products and further discussed alternative countries in which poultry could be imported except South Africa (SA), saying the countries that were brainstormed included Brazil, Eswatini and Turkey amongst others.

He therefore refuted the allegations, clarifying that it is not the Ministry’s responsibility to decide how poultry products are imported but it only offers permits to companies or individuals to buy poultry at certified farms outside the country.

“The Ministry has a responsibility to prevent diseases hence it acted against the importation of poultry products from SA as that country was hit by bird flu” he said.

In another issue, Mr. Masupha said he knew nothing about a document trending on social media which indicates that some of the local companies owned by some Ministers are bidding for a project to ensure importation of poultry products from Brazil.

Meanwhile, reports from the South African Department of Agriculture indicate that South Africa’s worst bird flu outbreak is now under control and 70 percent of farms that were not infected continue to produce eggs and chickens.

Source: LENA 28/11/2023