• FAO chief visits Djibouti as nation seeks $100M for agri-sector overhaul
  
  
• Plan aims to boost food production; Djibouti currently imports 80% of needs
  
  
• Livestock dominates sector but faces infrastructure gaps hindering exports
  

A U.N. delegation led by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu has assessed the potential of Djibouti’s agriculture, livestock, aquaculture and food-processing sectors during a 48-hour official visit that began on Dec. 7, according to local outlet La Nation.

Honoured to meet HE President @IsmailOguelleh. We discussed Djibouti’s investment plan and @FAO’s commitment to supporting the country in establishing a programme that will help make it an economic hub. #4Betters pic.twitter.com/z1wconnZxQ

— FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (@FAODG) December 7, 2025

The visit comes as Djibouti aims to mobilize $100 million with support from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to modernize its agricultural sector. During the mission, President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with Qu to discuss the country’s investment priorities and development needs.

“We discussed Djibouti’s investment plan and FAO’s commitment to supporting the country in establishing a programme that will help make it an economic hub,” Qu said on his official X account.

Details of the investment plan and its implementation have not yet been disclosed. A report published on Sept. 11 by the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANPI) described the agricultural sector as underdeveloped and covering only 20% of national food needs, implying that Djibouti relies on imports for the remaining 80%.

UNCTAD data show the country imported an average of $735.8 million in food per year between 2021 and 2023, including cereals, meat, dairy products, fishery products, sugar and vegetable oils.

According to ANPI, domestic production is limited to small-scale vegetable farming and fruit growing along waterways. Water scarcity, limited arable land and soil salinity hinder the development of staple crops such as cereals and require tailored measures, including efficient irrigation and drought-resistant varieties.

In the livestock sector, which accounts for 75% of agricultural GDP, shortages in processing and storage infrastructure remain the main constraint on developing the meat industry and limit export potential, which depends largely on live-animal shipments.

Stéphanas Assocle