TANZANIA – Held in Dar es Salaam on October 16-17, the Poultry Futures Forum 2024 brought together influential stakeholders from across Africa’s poultry sector to address the industry’s pressing challenges while unlocking its vast potential as a cornerstone of food security, economic development, and employment in the region. 

The event, supported by the Tanzanian government, AGRA, the Food Action Alliance, and numerous regional partners, was a milestone for sustainable agriculture and inclusivity. It spotlighted the crucial roles of women and youth in driving sectoral transformation.  

The opening day featured a keynote address from Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko, who underscored the forum’s role as a dialogue platform, allowing nations to exchange insights and develop unified strategies. 

His call for collaborative, cross-border initiatives set the tone for a forum focused on reshaping the poultry sector through collective commitment.

Reflecting on regional unity, he noted, “This consultative forum allows us to complement one another and face shared challenges as one. The poultry sector is immensely capable of fostering food security, sustainable growth, and inclusive development for millions across the region.”

Empowering women and youth a central forum theme

The forum emphasised youth and gender inclusion, showcasing stories of resilience, innovation, and leadership. 

One such story was that of Omari Musa, a young farmer from Tanzania, who highlighted the potential of commercial poultry farming to uplift communities. 

He spoke passionately about the Kuku Pesa Group and TangaYetu initiatives, which have empowered young farmers to pursue poultry farming as a viable business. 

Our families have always lived with chickens, but it’s time to move towards commercial poultry farming. With the right support, youth can lead this transformation,” Omari noted. 

The forum’s emphasis on empowering women and youth was symbolic and strategic, acknowledging them as catalysts for sustainable change.

Grace Gondwe, a young farmer from Malawi, shared her journey from student to poultry entrepreneur. Due to high production costs, she transitioned from broiler production to Indigenous chicken farming. 

Using her animal science background, Grace developed feed optimisation software that has increased profitability by over 10% for small-scale farmers, further cementing the role of youth-led innovations in enhancing industry sustainability.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in panels, workshops, and mentorship sessions, delving into market access, funding, and technological innovation as key growth pillars. 

H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, AGRA Board Chair, underscored the importance of enabling local investments, innovation, and policies prioritising women, youth, and community welfare. 

With a projected annual demand growth of 3.8% for poultry, he urged a proactive approach to transforming the sector to meet this demand sustainably while advancing nutrition and food security.

Moreover, Dr. Biteko called for strategic investments to bolster Tanzania’s poultry sector. He encouraged partnerships with the private sector and urged the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to enhance local poultry feed production, reduce reliance on imports, and invest in advanced processing facilities.  

A vision for a collaborative Southern African Poultry Initiative

Looking forward, the forum aimed to create a unified Southern African Poultry Initiative, focusing on improving the livelihoods of 10 million people across Tanzania and neighbouring countries. 

The initiative aims to elevate poultry production, tackle food insecurity, and promote economic resilience by fostering regional collaboration and public-private partnerships. 

Dr. Biteko reiterated, “Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the discussions and strategies developed here are implemented for the benefit of all our nations. Together, we can achieve food sovereignty and resilience.”

With stakeholders from 23 countries, including representatives from USAID, Feed the Future, and IFAD, the Poultry Futures Forum 2024 set a robust agenda for transforming the industry, creating inclusive growth opportunities, and setting a model for sustainable, resilient agricultural development.

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