Local Poultry Farming To Show Signs Of Revival

In the Republic of Moldova, meat production was one of many progressively weakening revenue-generating industries. Over the past ten years, production rates have decreased threefold. In 1990, production of meat, including poultry, was estimated at 475 thousand tons, whereas in 2001, it dropped to less than 100 thousand tons. To revitalize animal husbandry in the republic, specialists are currently working on a set of measures and systematic changes in the industry. However, they say meat production increase might be favored only due to an intensive development of poultry farming.

Today, there are 20 poultry farms in the republic. All are privatized. In 2001, they slashed their output twofold and produced 29.5 thousand tons of meat, of which only 5% is exported. At the same time, Moldova annually imports more than 16 thousand tons of poultry meat, mostly of American origin.

The specialists of the state holding Avicola believe that Moldovan poultry farming has all chances of showing signs of economic growth. Along with the wine-making industry, poultry farming should become one of Moldova's priority industries.

The program of the poultry farming development strategy for 2002-2010 was worked out by Avicola's experts in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. It stipulates a complex of relief measures to stimulate the industry growth and, primarily, centers of pedigree stock breeding and poultry farming. At present the republic imports all biological materials for this purpose. If the program is introduced, the state budget will thus retrench 20 million lei annually.

The country must carry out projects providing for a favorable environment to resume local production of mixed fodder and the development of bio-chemical and meat processing industries. The state might also introduce tax incentives to bolster local exporters of poultry meat, and therefore, help re-establish economic relations, primarily with Russia.

Should a pilot development program be successful, the poultry farming industry may re-build enduring industrial prosperity and independence. By 2010, the production of poultry meat is expected to reach 76 thousand tons. The production of eggs will amount to 950 million, of which industrial production will reach 530 million. The concluding stage of the program also stipulates extensive production of broilers as well as that of turkey meat currently in demand on both local and foreign markets.

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