The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga is deeply concerned about the devastating crisis unfolding in the province’s poultry industry, following reports that a farmer in Delmas has lost approximately 200 000 chickens due to a supplier’s alleged failure to deliver essential feed.
Daybreak Foods is contracted to supply chicken feed to poultry farmers around several South African Provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The DA is concerned at recent reports which allege that the company is failing to supply several farmers with chicken feed.
This catastrophic loss reported in Delmas not only impacts the affected farmer but also signals at a broader crisis that threatens to collapse the entire poultry sector in Mpumalanga. Daybreak is also contracted to the Provincial Department of Agriculture to supply feed to several poultry farmers in the province. The alleged failure of this supplier to uphold its obligations would, if found to be true, place immense pressure on local poultry farmers, who are already struggling to sustain their businesses and livelihoods.
The DA will urgently approach the MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Nompumelelo Hlophe, to assess the scale of this brewing crisis and to intervene before more farmers suffer irreparable damage. If immediate action is not taken, Mpumalanga could face severe food security risks, job losses, and economic instability in the agricultural sector.
We call on the provincial department to investigate the reports surrounding this supply chain failure and to explore contingency plans to ensure that poultry farmers receive the necessary support. Furthermore, we urge the provincial government to engage with key industry stakeholders to prevent further disruptions that could cripple the poultry industry in the province.
The DA stands in solidarity with the affected farmers and will continue to fight for urgent and sustainable solutions to protect Mpumalanga’s agricultural economy.