With less than a year to go before Gabon bans broiler imports on January 1, 2027, pressure is mounting on authorities and industry players to rapidly scale up domestic poultry production to avoid shortages and price shocks.
The government’s decision to end chicken imports is aimed at boosting food sovereignty and local agribusiness. But the challenge is significant: Gabon must bridge an estimated annual deficit of nearly 50,000 tonnes of broilers to meet domestic demand.
Industry observers warn that delays in infrastructure, high production costs and limited competitiveness could undermine the plan if execution does not accelerate.
Feed costs remain the main bottleneck
Animal feed is the sector’s biggest constraint, accounting for more than half of production costs. Maize and soybean inputs are still largely imported, leaving locally produced chicken more expensive than frozen poultry shipped from abroad.
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The construction of industrial feed mills is therefore seen as urgent. Without a reliable domestic feed supply, analysts warn that the import ban could trigger supply shortages or sharp price increases for consumers.
Infrastructure gaps persist
Beyond feed, the broader poultry ecosystem remains incomplete. Hatcheries, cold-chain facilities and industrial slaughterhouses must all be operational before the ban takes effect.
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Sector specialists say Gabon will need at least one industrial slaughterhouse capable of processing over 70,000 tonnes annually to meet health, hygiene and traceability standards nationwide. Locally produced chicken will be expected to match the quality and safety of imported products it replaces.
Regional hubs announced, execution awaited
The government has announced plans to develop six agropastoral hubs across the country, including in Estuaire, Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Haut-Ogooué, Ogooué-Maritime and Woleu-Ntem. The sites are intended to support decentralised production and improve supply coverage.
However, industry players say progress now depends on turning these plans into fully operational sites with access to energy, transport and logistics infrastructure.
Labour and financing challenges
Authorities have also launched a poultry training programme targeting 40,000 people by the end of 2025. While welcomed, experts caution that training alone will not deliver results without access to land, startup financing, technical support and guaranteed market outlets.
“The real test is moving from training to production,” one sector source said.
High stakes for 2027
With less than 360 days remaining, analysts say Gabon is entering a decisive phase. Success will depend on the state’s ability to coordinate investment, fast-track infrastructure and stabilise production costs.
Failure to do so, they warn, could leave the country exposed to shortages, inflationary pressures and social discontent once imports are banned.
The deadline is fixed. The margin for error is shrinking.
