Chicken shortage looms amid South Africa power crisis

South Africa may face severe chicken shortages as a result of the power crisis that is affecting the slaughtering of the chickens, a poultry association has warned.

The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) says it has had to reduce the number of chickens slaughtered with abattoirs unable to keep up because of the power cuts.

Local media quote Sapa as saying that it also had to cull 10 million chicks in the past weeks.

Some franchises such as KFC are reportedly already feeling the impact, with the situation likely to get worse.

It comes amid a warning that the issue could become a long-term problem, affecting retail and wholesale markets

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Getty Images

Blessing Mwangi