Gabon has taken a further step towards producing more of its own chicken, with veterinary kits handed to 79 poultry farmers across eight provinces on 11 November 2026.

The distribution took place at the Point Vert d'Akanda in Libreville. It was led by Pacôme Kossy, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, and forms part of the government's Operational Emergency Plan for the Poultry Sector, known as POUFA.

First step for 79 farms

The 79 farmers are the first group chosen from 150 farms selected by the government after a call for interest. The ministry said the programme would be extended gradually to more farmers.

The kits were handed out ahead of the arrival of 262,400 one-day-old chicks, scheduled between 19 November and 17 December 2026. For this first production cycle, the government will cover the full cost of poultry feed and veterinary products supplied to the farmers, with support from the Gabon Milling and Poultry Company.

Local chicken for Libreville markets

By 24 December, nearly 500 tonnes of chicken produced in Gabon is expected to reach markets and sales points in Libreville, as the first commercial batch comes through.

The aim is to cut Gabon's heavy reliance on imported chicken. The country currently produces about 4,000 tonnes of chicken a year, against estimated imports of 55,000 tonnes, and the government plans to stop chicken meat imports from 1 January 2027. It is targeting domestic production of between 100,000 and 130,000 tonnes by 2027-2028.

Officials say the shift will also need hatcheries, regional slaughterhouses and more home-grown maize and soybeans for feed, as well as reliable transport and cold storage so locally produced chicken reaches shoppers consistently.