Sierra Leone’s poultry sector leaders gather to identify collective solutions to productivity constraints

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As the demand for poultry meat rises regionally and globally, Sierra Leone’s homegrown poultry industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the country’s post-COVID recovery and food security. For this to happen, collective solutions must be found to constraints such as costly imported poultry feed, a shortage of veterinarian and other services, and the limited availability of quality day-old chicks (DOC), which leave local poultry farmers unable to compete with cheaper imports.

Imported eggs and chicken presently dominate the Sierra Leonean market. It is estimated that Sierra Leone consumes 20 million eggs each year, with local production accounting for just 20% of demand. Figures for the first two months of this year show that Sierra Leone imported 103 tonnes of eggs from Brazil alone.

To address these issues, Invest Salone (ISL), the UK Government-funded private sector development initiative, is working with the poultry sector to chart a collective approach to improving productivity and profitability.

Discussions held earlier this month were attended by leading firms, including Green Hall Poultry Feed, Technical Poultry, Leecon Poultry, Mac Mag Poultry, Fuad Poultry, Beckley Farms, Marco Poultry: Marco Koroma, Talleh Poultry and Lambano Poultry Feed. The talks focused on essential inputs and services such as feed, slaughter services, DOC investment and veterinarian services.

Feed

Feed is a major cost, and participants agreed that controlling feed costs without compromising on growth or yield is key to managing operational costs. However, the seasonal nature of raw materials is a significant constraint. Strategies suggested included encouraging farmers to invest in growing maize (a primary ingredient in poultry feed), and working with Njala University and the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau to identify viable local substitutes, such as garri, fish, soya beans, oyster shells and rice bran, for local production of feed.

Veterinarian services

Access to vet services is extremely limited: Sierra Leone only has one qualified vet and there are no training institutions. Furthermore, essential vaccines and medications are imported from Senegal via Guinea, and have to be pre-ordered. Participants expressed concerns about vaccine quality and the cold chain management process, and the resulting impact on the death rate of day-old chicks. In addition to increased vet services, it was agreed that there is a need for local veterinarian training and improved quality control of poultry medicines and vaccines.

Day-old chicks (DOC)

Farmers agreed that the supply of DOC was costly and unreliable. Most are imported and suggestions for lowering costs included pooling resources to strengthen buying power through a collaborative procurement process, as well as encouraging investment in indigenous chicks. It is critical that new entrants to DOC breeding address issues such as genetic stock, hatchery management and vet services – at the meeting, experience was shared of locally bred DOCs that were less productive, had a shorter life cycle and more deformities than imported DOC.

Slaughter services

The lack of a slaughter and processing facility has also inhibited the growth of the local poultry industry. Participants explored the possibility of other farmers using the in-house slaughter facilities of Sierra Akker, one of Sierra Leone’s larger poultry producers, on a commercial basis. Farmers also discussed setting up a mobile slaughter hub, which has proved viable in other markets.

In general, participants discussed the need for the industry to address sector-wide challenges collectively, over and above the informal collaboration between businesses that already exists. The Poultry Union, which is in the process of being revived, is intended to be the representative body for the industry.

The meeting ended with a commitment to collaboration and knowledge sharing from participants. Invest Salone Team Leader, Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, noted that coordination is increasingly recognised as necessary for making sustainable progress on collective challenges. In this regard, he concluded, the revival of the Poultry Union boded well for the future of the industry in Sierra Leone.

Invest Salone is a private sector development programme that aims to help Sierra Leone realise the benefits of international trade and raise the incomes of 370,000 people. Invest Salone is:

  • Reducing the risk of doing business in Sierra Leone through investment climate reform.
    Invest Salone is working with the public and private sectors to identify, design and implement reforms that will reduce the costs and risks of doing business in Sierra Leone. The initiative will support the development of investment climate reforms that benefit citizens across the country.
  • Applying market systems development principles to mobilise the private sector.
    Invest Salone mobilises the capabilities and resources of the private sector in order to support the people of Sierra Leone. The initiative works with firms, investors, and business associations to catalyse shifts in the behaviour of the market system, offering market incentives to trigger enduring positive change.
  • Encouraging investment and exports to support domestic firms and international trade.
    Invest Salone is working to attract investors and exporters to the Sierra Leone market, helping local firms to expand their businesses and sales whilst also encouraging international trade. The initiative works with investors to help them identify and support investible businesses and potential export partners.