• Guinea drafts 2026-2030 poultry strategy with seven reform pillars
• Aims to cut imports, boost egg self-sufficiency amid rising demand
• Imports surge 63% since 2020; domestic output remains stagnant

Guinea’s Ministry of Livestock held talks with key industry stakeholders on April 17 on a new national poultry development strategy for 2026-2030.

The roadmap under preparation is built around seven pillars, including animal feed development, stronger biosecurity, reform of the commercial framework, and better organization of the value chain.

“This roadmap aims to significantly reduce imports of broiler chickens while strengthening national self-sufficiency in eggs, as food demand continues to grow,” the ministry said in a statement.

The move comes as Guinea’s poultry sector, dominated by traditional farming, remains largely uncompetitive and unable to meet domestic demand. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show chicken meat imports rose 63.25% over five years, from 49,735 metric tons in 2020 to 81,193 metric tons in 2024, with an annual bill exceeding $100 million.

Over the period, domestic production has stagnated. The FAO estimates Guinea produced an average of 13,806 metric tons of chicken meat annually over the period, never exceeding 15,000 metric tons.

Industry players cite structural constraints, including limited access to financing, regulatory weaknesses, and market organization challenges. Measures discussed include tailored financing mechanisms, the creation of guarantee funds, and steps to improve the business climate.

The five-year strategy is part of broader efforts to strengthen food security and capture more value domestically. If implemented effectively, it could create investment opportunities across the value chain, as efforts to replace imports are already attracting private sector interest.

On March 26, Guinean conglomerate Société Nouvelle de Commerce (Sonoco) said it had secured $20 million in financing from the International Finance Corporation to develop an integrated poultry project through its subsidiary FERMAV Industries. The project will span the entire value chain, from feed production to distribution, including farming and processing.

For now, Guinea is expected to remain heavily reliant on imports. Data from the Trade Map platform show the country sources most of its chicken meat and offal from the European Union, Brazil and the United States.

Stéphanas Assocle