The Agriculture Ministry is pursuing a Public-Private Partnership to establish a large-scale poultry breeding and hatchery facility.
It says the proposed facility is intended to produce fertile eggs, breeder stock and day-old chicks locally, for both the broiler and layer industries.
By developing domestic capacity, the hope is to reduce dependence on imported inputs, strengthen biosecurity and food security, conserve forex, create employment and reduce the risk of disruptions due to international supply chains.
The Ministry admits that increased egg farms alone will not necessarily eliminate shortages, as a stable domestic egg supply depends on the strength of the entire poultry value chain, including access to quality layer chicks, feed and feed ingredients, suitable housing, reliable water and electricity, veterinary services, biosecurity, financing, labour, transportation, packaging and stable markets.
As such, it says it is focused on strengthening the systems that support sustainable growth throughout the sector.
The Ministry says it is also taking steps to manage risks associated with the international poultry supply chain, by approving the Netherlands, as an addition to the US, as a source for the supply of hatching eggs and live chicks.
