The World Bank has approved US$60 million for a programme to expand poultry and aquaculture production in the Republic of Congo, with the financing targeting constraints that have limited investment and domestic output.
The project will focus on improving farmers’ access to affordable feed, quality day-old chicks, technical support and infrastructure, areas that continue to affect the cost and efficiency of poultry production.
Feed is one of the largest expenses for poultry farmers, while the availability and quality of chicks can influence flock performance, production costs and overall farm returns.
To address these challenges, the programme will support the supply of key poultry inputs while providing training and technical assistance to farmers, workers and businesses involved in the sector.
World Bank Division Director for the Republic of Congo Cheick F. Kanté said investment in poultry and aquaculture could support employment, food and nutrition security and economic diversification, with the programme combining public funding, private-sector participation, skills development and climate-smart measures.
The investment will extend beyond farms, with stronger poultry production expected to create opportunities for hatcheries, feed manufacturers, veterinary service providers, transport companies, processors and traders.
Infrastructure will also receive funding, with selected Protected Agricultural Zones set to receive facilities designed to withstand climate-related pressures and provide producers with more reliable operating conditions.
The programme will additionally support improvements to Congo’s policy and regulatory framework in areas that could encourage private companies to invest in poultry and aquaculture.
Improved access to finance will form another part of the initiative, giving farmers and investors more opportunities to fund activities such as expanding poultry housing, upgrading equipment, purchasing inputs and developing processing operations.
The project is expected to generate employment across farming, processing, trading and related services, with women and young people among those targeted for new jobs and business opportunities.
For poultry producers, the wider approach reflects the need to strengthen several parts of the supply chain at the same time, since higher production depends on access to feed, genetics, veterinary services, financing, infrastructure and reliable markets.
The investment comes as Congo seeks to increase domestic animal protein production and reduce vulnerabilities linked to dependence on external food supplies.
By targeting production inputs, infrastructure, skills, finance and private investment through a single programme, the World Bank-backed project is intended to build a more commercially connected poultry industry and increase the sector’s contribution to Congo’s food supply and economy.
