Although the poultry industry has developed steadily over the years in Africa, the continent continues to encounter a severe chicken crisis. An oversupply of poultry imports and uneven distribution of products throughout African countries makes it hard to meet the demands of the growing population — many of which live well below the poverty line.

Low-cost feed, such as corn and other grains, is essential for poultry farming, which Africa has been unable to produce enough of. Is all hope lost? Developing solutions for better poultry production requires understanding what’s driving the crisis.

Brief History of Agriculture in Africa

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Africa imports 85% of its food from outside the continent. This equates to a food import bill of $35 billion, expected to increase to $100 billion by 2025. Africa’s reliance on food imports worldwide could lead to serious implications for food security, making it critical for the continent to find a way to improve its poultry production.

However, Africa must continue to increase its grain and feed production to do this. Africa has a long history of agriculture and cultivating food typically met with several challenges that inhibit development. Recently, many factors attributed to low agricultural production in African countries include climate change, soil quality, diseases and slavery.

Research has also found that Africa hasn’t fully recovered from the arrival of European merchants and resource and wealth extraction. As African populations continue to grow, the continent’s ability to produce grain for humans and chickens has added to Africa’s import expenses. Farmers Review Africa