The Netherlands Embassy in Tanzania has committed to working with the government to implement the National Poultry Development Strategy spanning 2026 to 2036. Deputy Netherlands Ambassador Onno Koopmans made the pledge at the opening of a Tanzania-Netherlands Poultry Business Forum in Dar es Salaam, saying the embassy would help address challenges facing farmers including nutrition, equipment, housing, research and innovation.
According to Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Ng'wasi Damas Kamani, the poultry sector currently contributes 1.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, equivalent to more than 5 trillion Tanzanian shillings, and accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of livestock-sector output. More than four million households, representing 55 per cent of agricultural households, keep poultry. The government aims to increase the sector's contribution to GDP to 3 per cent by 2036 and boost annual egg production from 7.1 billion to 17.3 billion.
The strategy targets raising poultry meat production from 156,000 tonnes to 380,000 tonnes and quality chick production from 104 million to 250 million by 2036. Implementing the plan will require 3.53 trillion Tanzanian shillings in investment over ten years, with the private sector expected to contribute 60 per cent, development partners 25 per cent, and the government 15 per cent.
The Poultry Association of Tanzania noted that farmers face significant challenges including high production costs, shortages of animal feed and limited access to finance. The recently held poultry exhibition expanded from eight to 18 booths in a year and attracted exhibitors from South Africa, the Netherlands, Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi.