USGC promotes poultry industry growth in West Africa

Although East and West Africa are currently home to relatively small poultry operations, these operations are rapidly growing, according to USGC manager of global strategies, Katy Wyatt. “While demand is increasing, inefficient production techniques and insufficiently addressed issues like zoonotic diseases continue to hinder industry growth,” she says.

Ramy Taieb, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa, says that an estimated 15% of the growth in poultry demand globally over the next 2 decades is expected to occur in Africa due to increasing population, urbanisation and gains in purchasing power, adding that there is a surge for animal proteins, “creating significant opportunities for the local poultry production value chain to modernise and meet this growing market demand”. The Council is establishing a Center for Excellence in Poultry Production in Morocco, which is to be run in partnership with FISA.

Training programmes

One of the programme focused on veterinary laboratory diagnostic methods and management with veterinarians from across West Africa, and emphasised enhanced analytical methods for detecting poultry diseases. Another programme brought together poultry producers from Cameroon and Burkina Faso for training on broiler and layer management, covering feed formulation, poultry management and vaccination protocols and methods. The poultry training programmes will expand in the next 3 years, reaching additional countries in the region.