The government has called for stronger collaboration with private investors to address persistent challenges in Tanzania’s poultry industry, particularly the quality of chicks, vaccines and animal feed.
Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, said effective cooperation between the public and private sectors was critical to lowering production costs, protecting farmers and ensuring the poultry industry contributes more to food security and economic growth.
Dr Bashiru made the remarks on August 10, 2026, during a visit to Homeland Farm in Ilemela District, Mwanza Region, where he assessed the farm’s operations and discussed challenges facing poultry producers.
He said the government would focus on areas within its regulatory mandate while working with private investors in areas where they have the technical and financial capacity to improve production.
“Where the private sector has the capacity, we should work together. Where the government has a responsibility, such as regulation, we must do our part. We cannot allow someone to sell substandard chicks in the market,” Dr Bashiru said.
His comments come as poultry farmers continue to contend with high input costs, including feed, medicines and day-old chicks, challenges that can significantly affect profitability and the price of poultry products.
The minister said quality control was particularly important because poor-quality chicks can undermine farmers’ investments and productivity from the beginning of the production cycle.
Dr Bashiru also pointed to the cost of feed as another area requiring government intervention. He said the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries was working with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote soybean production as part of efforts to reduce Tanzania’s reliance on imported soybeans.
Soybean is a key ingredient in animal feed, including feed used in poultry and fish production. Increasing domestic production, according to the minister, could help reduce input costs and limit the impact of imports on producers.
The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for farmers in the crop-producing regions while strengthening linkages between agriculture and livestock and fisheries value chains.
At Homeland Farm, Executive Director Mwanabure Ihuya said the business currently keeps about 60,000 broiler and layer chickens and produces approximately 850 trays of eggs a day and 28 tonnes of chicken meat a month.
The farm employs more than 150 people through permanent and temporary positions, highlighting the poultry industry’s potential to create jobs beyond the farm level.
Ms Ihuya, however, said the business was facing high production costs, with the prices of chicks, medicines and feed among its major concerns.
She also raised concerns over the availability of poor-quality chicks in the market, saying the problem could affect productivity and increase losses for farmers.
The issues raised at Homeland Farm underline the wider challenges facing Tanzania’s poultry industry, where the cost and quality of production inputs remain central to the competitiveness of farmers and commercial producers.
For the government, stronger regulation of poultry inputs, increased domestic production of feed ingredients and closer engagement with private investors could help reduce production costs while improving the quality and reliability of poultry products.
A more coordinated approach could also strengthen the sector’s role in creating jobs, supporting farmers and improving access to affordable animal protein as demand for poultry products continues to grow.
