WILLAGRI
Domestic production accounts for only a quarter of consumption, with nearly 1 million tons produced in West Africa. Competition arises from the import of cheaper chicken meat, which is subsidized by exporting countries, especially Western ones (European Union, United States, Brazil). Production has been increasing across Africa over the past decade, with the average annual growth rate (AAGR) as follows:
– North Africa: +6.57%
– East Africa: +4.79%
– West Africa: +3.3%
However, population growth and the demand for animal proteins are driving consumption upward. In terms of value, imports of chicken meat account for 35% of total imports, with 4/5 imported by Ghana, Benin, Guinea, and Liberia. Faced with rising animal feed costs, African breeders cannot produce competitive meat, especially considering that foreign exporting producers receive subsidies. Moreover, the demand is more for processed, ready-to-cook meat, while local supply is more focused on live poultry. It appears necessary to support the creation of value chains with the importation of hatching eggs upstream and poultry processing (cutting, packaging) downstream. Also, reserving a portion of soybean and maize production for animal feed is essential to preserve the food sovereignty of African nations.
Source: Agence EcoFin