Cameroon invests US$10.6M in new poultry facility

CAMEROON – A newly launched poultry complex in Bamendjou, West Region of Cameroon, is aiming to increase local production of poultry meat amid rising national demand and unstable supply chains.

The Cameroon Cooperative Farm (FCC), inaugurated by Minister of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries Dr. Taïga, includes a poultry slaughtering unit and is expected to contribute significantly to the domestic meat market, which relies heavily on imports and faces recurring disease outbreaks.

The facility, funded by US-based Cameroonian surgeon Dr. Pascal Talla, cost approximately US$10.6 million (6 billion CFA francs) and is part of a wider initiative to strengthen food self-sufficiency.

This investment comes in response to a government appeal for the diaspora to support productive sectors that enhance local economic development.

According to official statistics from the National Institute of Statistics, poultry meat production in Cameroon rose by 18% in 2021, reaching 52,600 tons, and currently accounts for 19% of the total national meat supply.

However, previous large-scale projects have struggled to sustain operations, such as the 2011 launch of the Société des Produits Avicoles du Cameroun (SPAC), which failed due to unsustainable production costs despite an initial investment of US$8.8 million (5 billion CFA francs).

Authorities now hope that the FCC will avoid similar pitfalls through better planning and integrated systems that minimize reliance on imported raw materials.

Eggs, Feed, and Chicks: Integrated Model Targets Market Gaps

The complex includes two housing units with a total of 80,000 laying hens capable of producing 75,000 eggs per day.

In addition, there is a feed mill on site that produces 4 tons of feed per hour, a hatchery for up to 40,000 chicks, and a satellite station in Bamena that manufactures egg trays.

Dr. Talla said the choice to invest in poultry was driven by the sector’s connection to both agriculture and food security, and its potential to supply affordable products to the local market.

Government officials say the farm aligns with Cameroon’s import-substitution policy, which aims to produce more food locally and reduce exposure to price swings in global markets.

The FCC has also benefited from a national investment promotion law, updated in 2017, which offers tax and customs breaks for businesses deemed vital to economic growth.

Still, challenges such as recurring avian influenza outbreaks and market instability could threaten the facility’s long-term operations if not carefully managed.

The FCC’s future will depend on its ability to keep production costs low, maintain steady output, and supply its products competitively in an unpredictable market.

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