The local poultry industry - potential to meet domestic demand : production

The history of the poultry industry in South Africa invariably brings to (my) mind the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens – the tale of a little orphaned boy who desperately wishes to lead a normal life, but always runs into trouble because of other people’s evil intentions. Yet unbeknown to him, Oliver is, in fact, the heir to a fortune. The poultry industry in South Africa can be very profitable, but it has repeatedly faced challenges and has almost become used to ‘being the least’. The demand for poultry products is good and poultry farming is open to large- and small-scale farmers. The country is able to supply in the domestic demand for poultry products. In fact, the poultry industry is the largest agricultural sector in the country, and this is perhaps why it has attracted considerable opposition from various corners.