Kenya will raise its poultry consumption in the following years
In Kenya, at least 45 million people frequently consume chicken, with 27.6 percent of the total population partaking in the meal once a week. Official projections by global bodies such as World Bank...
In Kenya, at least 45 million people frequently consume chicken, with 27.6 percent of the total population partaking in the meal once a week. Official projections by global bodies such as World Bank put Kenya's total population at 53.77 million as of 2020. The UN-Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says 92.6% of the population frequently eats chicken meat, and consumption is projected to rise over the next three decades.
Stephen Gikonyo, Animal Production and Value Chain analyst at FAO-Kenya, said poultry farming is expected to be the most rapidly growing livestock sector driven by growing demand by a more extensive and increasingly affluent urban and peri-urban population.
"We are projecting that in the next coming three decades or so, we will require like 100 million chickens to slaughter annually to provide enough chicken meat to the Kenyan population," Gikonyo said.
Currently, about 50 million birds are slaughtered annually in Kenya.
Gikonyo said poultry meat and eggs consumption is projected to rise to 92,000 tons (+289%) and 245,000 tons (+211%) by 2050, respectively.
While speaking to the Star on Wednesday, Gikonyo said current macro, economic, population, and other mega drivers indicate that Kenyans are going to have more disposable incomes.
"We project that in 2050, per capita income will be over 3,000 dollars, and the population will double in the next 30 years. All this will push demand in the number of chickens needed."
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Gikonyo said projections show that livestock transformation (based on urbanization, population growth, and increases in incomes) is going to push consumption of poultry production more than the other livestock.
It should be because land issues prohibit the expansion of the bigger livestock, so it is easier for livestock enterprises at the production level to go for poultry farming.
This is in addition to the current trend, which shows more demand for white meat from those who are conscious of healthy eating.
Price is the other driving factor for the high demand for poultry, and chicken meat is cheaper than beef.
