Qatar targets Tanzania investment in animal feed and poultry

TANZANIA – Qatar is exploring investment in Tanzania’s poultry and animal feed sectors as the two countries seek to strengthen livestock and fisheries trade, with high feed costs identified as a key constraint to poultry production.

The interest was raised during talks between Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Ambassador Dr Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, and former Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah on strengthening investment cooperation between the two countries.

Dr Al Attiyah highlighted the importance of developing an integrated value chain connecting livestock production with animal feed, processing and markets. 

He said poultry feed accounts for about 70% of production costs, making increased domestic production of maize and soybeans important to lower costs and improve the competitiveness of Tanzanian poultry products.

Feed production emerges as investment opportunity

The focus on feed comes as Tanzania seeks to expand and formalise its poultry industry under a 10-year poultry strategy. 

The government has identified opportunities across the poultry value chain, including feed production, vaccines, farm inputs, productivity improvement, distribution and raw-material quality.

Tanzania has also been encouraging greater domestic feed production. 

Earlier this year, the livestock ministry called on institutions under the Building a Better Tomorrow programme to produce animal feed commercially, citing reliable and affordable feed as a major challenge for livestock keepers.

The government’s 2026/27 financing programme has also supported livestock investments including feed manufacturing and pasture farming, pointing to growing attention on the feed supply chain as part of efforts to raise livestock productivity.

For Qatar, the investment interest could help develop supply capacity while creating stronger links between Tanzanian livestock production and Middle Eastern markets.

Dr Kakurwa said Tanzania is seeking to increase meat production and exports, expand poultry farming, develop deep-sea fishing and improve fisheries infrastructure. 

Tanzania has increased meat exports from about 1,000 tonnes in 2021 to nearly 15,000 tonnes currently and is targeting at least 50,000 tonnes annually.

The two countries are also discussing investment in fisheries, including deep-sea fishing and processing. 

Tanzania has developed the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port with cold-chain, ice-making, freezing and processing infrastructure, while a feasibility study has been undertaken for a fishing port at Bagamoyo.

Tanzania and Qatar have agreed to accelerate the completion of a memorandum of understanding that will provide a framework for investment projects in the livestock and fisheries sectors. 

Further technical discussions will focus on turning the identified opportunities into concrete projects.

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