Tanzania Sets 2036 Targets to Expand Poultry Production with Dutch Support

Tanzania plans to increase poultry meat, egg and day-old chick production over the next decade, with the Netherlands pledging support for the implementation of its National Poultry Development Strategy 2026–2036.

Deputy Netherlands Ambassador to Tanzania, Onno Koopmans, announced the commitment at the Tanzania–Netherlands Poultry Business Forum in Dar es Salaam. He highlighted the need for better poultry nutrition, modern equipment, improved housing, research and technical training.

Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ng’wasi Damas Kamani, said poultry currently contributes 1.8 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, worth more than five trillion Tanzanian shillings. She added that more than four million households keep poultry.

Under the new strategy, the government aims to raise poultry’s GDP contribution to three per cent by 2036. Annual egg production is expected to increase from 7.1 billion to 17.3 billion, while poultry meat output is targeted to rise from 156,000 to 380,000 tonnes.

The plan also seeks to increase annual production of quality chicks from 104 million to 250 million. Implementing the strategy is expected to cost 3.53 trillion Tanzanian shillings, with the private sector projected to provide 60 per cent of the funding.

However, poultry industry representatives identified high production costs, feed shortages and limited access to finance as major challenges facing farmers.

The government says cooperation among farmers, investors, researchers and development partners will be important to achieving the targets.