Côte d’Ivoire cuts feed import taxes to spur livestock growth

CÔTE D’IVOIRE –  The government of Côte d’Ivoire has slashed customs taxes on animal feed imports in a bold move to support its livestock sector and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign animal products. 

The partial exemption, ranging from 7% to 15%, was announced on April 2 by Sidi Tiémoko Touré, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources.

The tax relief is part of a broader government strategy to make animal feed more affordable, lower production costs, and encourage higher local output of meat, poultry, and fish. 

“Modernizing production, processing, and marketing infrastructure is crucial to adding value to livestock products,” Touré said during a press briefing in Abidjan.

Currently, input costs—mainly feed—account for over 60% of total expenses for livestock producers. 

The rising cost burden has been a major obstacle for small and medium-scale farmers nationwide. 

The government hopes to increase feed availability by reducing import duties and ease financial pressure on producers.

Driving toward food self-sufficiency

This fiscal adjustment comes as part of Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitious National Livestock, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Development Plan (PONADEPA) 2022–2026. The plan outlines a strategic path to meet 65% of the country’s animal product demand by 2026—up from just 26.7% in 2019.

To support this transformation, the government is investing in key infrastructure and development programs, including the Poultry Sector Modernization Project (PMSA) and the National Slaughterhouse Installation Project (PAVCI). 

These initiatives are designed to improve the entire value chain from farm to market, creating jobs and stimulating rural economies in the process.

The potential savings in foreign exchange are also considerable. According to government projections, reducing dependency on imports could save the country an estimated CFA451.5 billion (around US$745 million).

Fisheries sector eyes similar support

Minister Touré also revealed that the government is considering a new compensatory tax on fish imports in a parallel effort to boost local fish production. 

This measure is intended to curb the flood of low-cost foreign fish that currently dominates the market and undercuts local producers.

In 2023, Côte d’Ivoire imported approximately 726,258 tonnes of fish worth around US$855 million. Meanwhile, domestic output from fisheries and aquaculture was just 106,000 tonnes in 2022, according to World Bank data.

By taxing imported fish, officials hope to recreate the success seen in the poultry sector, which has flourished since the introduction of an import levy in 2009. 

That policy added a charge of 1,000 FCFA (about US$1.65) per kilogram of foreign poultry, effectively shielding local producers from the effects of international export subsidies.

Since then, the domestic poultry population has more than doubled, rising from 57.4 million birds in 2015 to over 129.4 million in 2023.

While no date or rate has yet been set for the proposed fish import tax, discussions are ongoing. 

The government plans to consult further with stakeholders in the fisheries sector to ensure that the policy, if adopted, will align with local production capacity and market readiness.

Touré emphasised that long-term success will depend not just on protective policies, but on whether domestic producers can scale up and compete. Without significant improvements in output, consumers may continue to rely heavily on imported products.

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