Poultry Futures Forum 2024: Empowering Youth and Women to Drive Africa’s Poultry Sector

Dar es Salaam, October 16, 2024 – The Poultry Futures Forum 2024, held in Dar es Salaam, brought together stakeholders from across Southern Africa to shape the future of the poultry industry, focusing on empowering youth and promoting gender inclusion. The forum, which attracted representatives from 23 countries, spotlighted poultry farming as a key driver of food security, economic growth, and employment creation, especially for women and youth.

Hosted over two days, the forum was marked by powerful speeches from regional leaders, industry experts, and young farmers, all underscoring the immense opportunities within the poultry sector. With Africa’s growing demand for protein, the forum provided a platform for dialogue on how to transform poultry farming into a commercially viable and sustainable industry, crucial for the continent’s development.

Youth and Gender at the Center of Poultry Transformation

One of the most significant outcomes of the forum was the emphasis on youth and gender empowerment. As Africa grapples with high youth unemployment and gender disparities in agriculture, the forum championed poultry farming as an inclusive industry with vast potential to uplift communities. The message was clear: poultry can help bridge economic gaps, empower marginalized groups, and contribute to national food security.

Regional Collaboration Key to Success

Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko, who represented Vice President Hon. Dr. Philip Mpango, opened the forum, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in advancing the poultry sector. “This is a consultative platform where we can share experiences and complement each other’s strengths,” Dr. Biteko noted. He urged international delegates to embrace Tanzania as a home of innovation and partnership, stating that increased investment in poultry would serve as a cornerstone for ensuring food security across the region.

Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chair of AGRA’s Board, also underscored the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve lasting transformation in the poultry industry. “The poultry sector offers tremendous opportunities for food security and job creation, but realizing its full potential requires us to work together as a region,” he said. Hailemariam praised Tanzania’s leadership in agriculture and called for deeper investment in youth and women to secure the future of African poultry farming.

Youth Farmers Leading the Way

Young farmers were at the heart of the forum, with several sharing their personal success stories. One such voice was that of Omari Musa, a Tanzanian youth farmer who has transitioned from traditional poultry keeping to commercial farming with support from initiatives like TangaYetu. Omari shared how access to financial services, like EFTA loans covering up to 75% of startup costs, has enabled him to scale up his poultry business.

From Malawi, young farmer Grace Gondwe presented her innovative feed optimization software that has revolutionized her poultry operations, reducing costs and increasing profitability by over 10%. “We need support from investors and stakeholders to scale up youth-driven innovations like ours,” she said, calling on the forum to focus on building sustainable poultry businesses driven by technology and innovation.

Poultry’s Cultural and Economic Impact: The significance of poultry farming in Tanzania goes beyond economics—it is also deeply ingrained in the culture. Geoffrey Kirenga, CEO of SAGCOT Centre, emphasized this point during his remarks by referencing Tanzania’s popular dish, Chips Mayai (Egg and Chips), which uses eggs as a staple ingredient. “This simple dish is a reminder of the cultural and economic relevance of poultry products,” Kirenga said, urging further support for poultry farming to sustain both the economy and Tanzanian food culture.

The Poultry Futures Forum 2024 highlighted the immense potential of the poultry sector to drive youth and gender empowerment, create jobs, and strengthen food security across Africa. As the forum concluded, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to building a resilient, innovative, and inclusive poultry industry that will benefit millions across the continent.

With growing demand for poultry products and increasing engagement from youth and women, the future of poultry farming in Africa looks brighter than ever.