On June 2, 2026, Pacôme Kossi, Minister of Agriculture, unveiled a 700 billion FCFA program before lawmakers to help Gabon achieve poultry self-sufficiency by January 1, 2027. By that date, the country will halt annual imports of 65,000 metric tons of frozen chicken. Gabon currently consumes around 65,000 metric tons of chicken per year, according to FAO data. Economist Louis Ndong emphasizes the goal: “Achieving food sovereignty to ease household budgets.”

Building a comprehensive production ecosystem

Hervais Omva, Chairman of the Zambia-based NGO IDRC AFRICA and poultry sector expert, stresses that project success hinges on establishing the entire production chain. “The president has set the direction. Now, sector stakeholders must build the upstream and downstream ecosystem,” he explains. He highlights local production of maize and soybeans as critical, as these crops account for nearly 75% of poultry feed. “A major challenge will be producing millions of tons of these cereals locally,” he notes. Job creation is another key priority. “Some automated slaughterhouses can process up to 60,000 chickens daily with just 20 employees. If reducing youth unemployment is also a goal, we must adopt a model tailored to local realities,” he adds.

Gabon seeks African investors for transformation

Libreville plans to engage African investors to drive this transformation. Following a call by Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at the Kigali Summit in mid-May 2026, several African operators were received at the Presidential Palace on June 9. The government states that the technical framework is in place and an investment bank is already operational. A senior Agriculture Ministry official confirms that “various mechanisms will be rolled out gradually.” In Port-Gentil, G.M., a poultry farmer with a decade of experience managing a 10,000-chicken farm, sees this policy as a significant opportunity. “The potential is real, but scaling up to industrial production requires substantial investment,” he shares.

Strengthening national resilience through poultry farming

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war exposed the vulnerabilities of import-dependent nations. Gabon now seeks to bolster local production to mitigate such risks. According to the General Directorate of Statistics, 54.6% of Gabon’s population is under 26 years old. Youth unemployment rates range between 30% and 38%, per UNDP estimates. The development of the poultry sector thus represents a critical agricultural, economic, and social challenge. Hervais Omva sends a message to young Africans: “The president has paved the way. Investors are ready.”