In an effort to support its livestock sector, Côte d’Ivoire has announced a partial exemption from customs taxes on imported animal feed, reducing rates from 7% to 15%. This significant measure, disclosed on April 2 by Sidi Tiémoko Touré, the Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources, is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by livestock farmers amid rising production costs.
“Modernizing production, processing, and marketing infrastructure is crucial for adding value to livestock products,” the minister asserted during the announcement. To achieve these modernization goals, Côte d’Ivoire has launched strategic initiatives such as the Poultry Sector Modernization Project (PMSA), which aims to enhance poultry farming practices, and the National Slaughterhouse Installation Project (PAVCI), designed to improve meat processing facilities across the country.
This announcement comes during a challenging period for livestock producers, who are grappling with skyrocketing input costs that constitute over 60% of their total expenses. According to the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources, these rising costs have put significant financial pressure on farmers. By lowering the import costs of essential feed ingredients, such as corn and soybean meal, the government hopes to increase local production, improve the availability of quality feed, and ultimately reduce the economic strain on livestock owners.
Côte d’Ivoire is actively working to achieve food self-sufficiency, with a strategic goal to meet 65% of its domestic demand for animal and fish products by the year 2026. This ambitious target represents a substantial increase from just 26.7% in 2019. Successfully meeting this goal would not only reduce dependence on imports but also result in an estimated savings of over $1.5 billion in foreign exchange.
As part of its comprehensive 2022-2026 National Livestock, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Development Plan (PONADEPA), the Ivorian government has established a multifaceted strategy that prioritizes the development of the cattle, poultry, and fish farming sectors. This plan underlines the importance of modernizing regulations and institutional frameworks while encouraging increased involvement from the private sector to ensure sustainable growth and resilience in these vital agricultural areas.
