Businesses have found solace in the chicken and poultry sales after reports that their beef sales have decreased due to FMD, according to Mmegi of Botswana.

Although FMD has reduced beef sales, meat processors have revealed that the demand for chicken has increased tremendously. Shops and supermarkets selling meat confess that the demand for poultry products has more than doubled ever since the FMD outbreak reduced beef sales.

A manager at Pick 'n' Pay butchery, Keipopele Molathiwa, said the demand for poultry products has increased since the FMD outbreak.

She said: "At Pick 'n' Pay butchery, we sell mostly cow insides and liver. Our customers have since resorted to buying more chicken liver and intestines."

She added that they have also experienced increased sales income in chicken and its products.

The store manager at Nswazwi Spar revealed that ever since the outbreak of FMD, there is a significant shortage of chicken at the supermarket.

He said: "After the FMD outbreak, people automatically switched to buying chicken mostly. Its demand became higher than the supply, therefore resulting in its shortage."

He added that competition in chicken and poultry products also contributed to the shortage.

Francistown Branch Manager for Senn Foods, Phin Mackenzie, said that the company has experienced sales increase of 80 tonnes from 50 tonnes of chicken, a 60 per cent increase in total sales and profits.

Mr Mackenzie said that currently Senn Foods is battling to keep up with the chicken demand in the market.

He said: "Our supplier, Richmark Chickens, had to increase our usual supply because of the escalating demand."

Senn Foods is a major supplier to many supermarkets and restaurants in Francistown.

"We supply chicken to Cresta Hotels, catering businesses, tendering businesses to schools and also supply some supermarkets," Mr Mackenzie told Mmegi.