Poultry Industry in Egypt

In recent years, the poultry industry has become a supportive industry for Egyptian food security. Annual production of broiler chickens is about 1.8 billion birds in 2019 (source: General Federation of Poultry Producers), and according to future projections, the production volume may reach about 2 billion broiler chicks in 2025. This means that the total volume of poultry meat consumed in 2025 will be 13% higher than the volume consumed in 2019. These forecasts are very important and according to other experts, annual consumption can easily grow between 5 to 7%. Importantly, imports represent almost 5% of Egypt’s total poultry consumption. This means that with the current level of poultry meat consumption, Egypt has become almost self-sufficient with domestic production. Poultry meat exports are not important because of the country’s bird flu virus outbreak. GDP growth, middle class growth, and population growth are the main factors contributing to increased consumption of poultry meat. Growing consumer demand for animal protein at affordable prices has led to increased production of broiler chickens in Egypt.

At the same time, the lack of a national strategy for the development of the poultry industry has led to many issues, for example the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, live poultry handling and inefficient production practices. Despite improved self-sufficiency in the white meat sector, the country will remain dependent on imports of feed ingredients as well as commercial breeds, veterinary medicines and vaccines. The threat to raise feed grain prices or reduce import tariffs put pressure on domestic poultry producers to become more competitive. To do this, they will need to invest in raising production efficiency and food quality and safety standards. As a result of the existence of many variables witnessed in the Egyptian arena, the industry has been exposed to many waves and variables, including the change of the political and economic system within Egypt, where industry relied on the government sector from the sixties until the early nineties in what is known as the totalitarian system, which relied entirely on government funding, and in the early The 1990s with the transformation of Egypt to the capitalist system, the poultry industry witnessed another phase due to the entry of the private sector in the industry, which led to the fluctuation of prices at the beginning and then improved and increased production until it reached the stage of self-sufficiency of white meat in the year The last. According to the FAO classification, the majority of broiler chickens (approximately 70%) are produced from small sectors and the rest from large production sectors (integrated poultry companies). Recently there has been a general trend towards more contractual vertical integration and the establishment of multiple companies. There are many mechanisms to be implemented in order to protect the poultry industry from market fluctuations.

Legislative mechanisms

It means all policies proposed to be modified or developed to create the appropriate environment to achieve the objectives, or those necessary to guide the decisions and activities of the private sector to achieve the same goals. It should be noted here that any of these proposed policies necessarily requires a formal basis of a legislative nature whereby the target groups of the policy are obliged to implement them. The various levels of this official legislative reference range from ministerial decisions to the promulgation of laws and legislation.

Institutional mechanisms

This group includes institutional reform efforts and measures, whether the intended institutions are the organs of the Ministry of Agriculture or its institutions, or whether they are institutions of the private sector and civil society. Significant adjustments are required in these institutions or in their mandates or operational capacities as a necessity to meet the strategic objectives.

Programs and projects

This group includes all programs and projects that fall within the governmental executive framework and are included by the competent government agencies in their annual plans. These programs include, of course, all research and extension programs, as well as investment programs and projects that are required to meet the strategic objectives.