Eritrea to distribute over 161,000 chickens to farmers

ERITREA – The Eritrean Ministry of Agriculture is currently distributing more than 161,000 chickens to poultry farmers nationwide in an effort to enhance food security and increase access to nutritious produce. 

The program, implemented at fair market prices, aims to address specific demands from farmers across the country’s regions.

According to the Seeds Development Branch of the ministry, 203 poultry farmers were identified as beneficiaries based on regional needs. 

The allocation included approximately 78,000 chickens for farmers in the Central Region, around 55,000 for the Southern Region, over 31,000 for the Anseba Region, more than 14,000 for the Northern Red Sea Region, and close to 1,200 chickens for the Gash-Barka Region.

Farmers receiving the chickens expressed appreciation for the assistance, describing it as a critical intervention to support their poultry operations.

Many pledged to scale up production efforts and contribute to stabilizing poultry product supplies in the local market.

The distribution comes at a time when Eritrea’s poultry industry is facing significant challenges.

In 2022, poultry meat production in the country reached just 1,100 metric tons, the lowest recorded output. 

This is a sharp decline compared to 1996, when production peaked at 4,880 metric tons.

The livestock sector, which includes poultry, has been struggling due to prolonged droughts and reliance on outdated farming practices. 

These challenges have impacted its contribution to the nation’s economy. 

Between 2010 and 2013, the livestock sector’s share of the gross domestic product dropped from 7.5% to 4.6%, reflecting the broader difficulties within Eritrea’s agricultural industry.

While the distribution of chickens is seen as an initiative to address some of these issues, long-term recovery in the sector may require addressing systemic challenges, including the impact of climate change and modernizing farming methods.

The Ministry of Agriculture has not disclosed the total cost of the program but emphasized that the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve food self-sufficiency across the country.

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