The government has launched a 10-year national poultry development strategy aimed at modernising Tanzania’s chicken industry, increasing productivity and creating new opportunities for farmers, traders and investors across the value chain.
Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba unveiled the strategy on Saturday during the opening of the National and International Nane Nane Agricultural Exhibition at the Dr. John Samuel Malecela Grounds in Dodoma.
The strategy seeks to transform the poultry industry into a competitive, inclusive and sustainable sector capable of contributing more significantly to food security, nutrition, employment, household incomes, economic growth and trade.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nchemba said poultry farming remains one of the most important livelihood activities for many Tanzanian households, particularly in the country’s central regions, and noted that the strategy is expected to unlock the sector’s full potential.
“Poultry is among the key agricultural products associated with the Central Zone and supports the livelihoods of many families. This strategy is expected to drive reforms in the poultry sub-sector and increase productive output,” he said.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to ensure effective implementation of the strategy, stressing that its benefits must reach farmers on the ground, particularly in regions that have traditionally been known for poultry production.
In a move aimed at strengthening branding and market visibility, chickens produced in Singida and Dodoma will now be promoted under a unified Central Zone poultry identity, reflecting the regions’ longstanding reputation in the industry.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Ambassador Dr. Bashiru Ally Kakurwa said the strategy builds on ongoing government efforts to strengthen livestock production and improve the livelihoods of citizens who depend on the sector.
He said the poultry industry remains an important source of income and nutrition for many low- and middle-income households, making its development critical to broader economic growth.
According to the minister, the government has continued to invest in livestock improvement programmes, veterinary services, disease control, animal nutrition, pasture development, artificial insemination services and market infrastructure under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.
Before launching the strategy, Dr. Nchemba toured exhibitions showcasing fish farming technologies, including cage and pond aquaculture systems, as well as livestock pasture development initiatives.
He called for wider dissemination of fish farming technologies to communities, saying increased adoption would help raise fish production, improve household incomes and strengthen food security.
The launch of the poultry strategy comes as the government intensifies efforts to commercialise agriculture and livestock production, with a focus on increasing productivity, expanding market access and creating jobs for Tanzanians.