The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Poultry Industry Association of Malawi (PIAM), has launched a groundbreaking initiative known as the Poultry Delivery Lab. The two-day event held in Lilongwe aims to restructure Malawi’s poultry sector by developing actionable policies, building investor confidence, and promoting sustainable production. The Delivery Lab marks a decisive step away from mere discussions toward measurable transformation in one of the country’s most promising agricultural industries.
Dr. Julius Chulu, the Director of Animal Health and Livestock Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasised that the lab is not just another workshop, but a practical platform designed to generate real solutions. “This initiative is about implementation, not theory,” he stated. He highlighted that the poultry sector is a key component of Malawi’s agricultural development agenda, capable of creating employment, improving nutrition, and increasing income for thousands of smallholder farmers.
Poultry farming in Malawi has seen steady growth, yet the nation’s production still lags behind its full potential. Chicken meat remains the preferred source of animal protein among Malawians, but average annual consumption stands at only 3.16 kilograms per person — far below the recommended nutritional standards. Despite this, Malawians eat more chicken per capita than citizens of Kenya, a nation with a much higher GDP. This demonstrates the strong domestic demand for poultry products and the sector’s untapped potential if barriers are addressed.
A comprehensive value chain study revealed that Malawi could increase poultry production from 83,000 tonnes in 2024 to nearly 130,000 tonnes by 2030 — representing a 48,000-tonne growth opportunity. This expansion could positively impact over 450,000 rural households by linking smallholder farmers to structured value chains that include maize and soybean growers, feed manufacturers, and processors. Such integration could stimulate job creation, enhance rural incomes, and boost national food security.
However, the industry continues to grapple with high production costs, particularly feed expenses, which account for about 77% of total costs. The volatility of maize and soybean prices has made poultry farming financially risky for many small-scale producers. A cost comparison study shows that a Malawian consumer must spend 3.51% of their per capita GDP to buy 10 kilograms of chicken, compared to only 0.24% in South Africa. Dr. Chulu described this disparity as a “stark reminder of inequality in regional competitiveness.”
Malawi’s poultry industry also faces missed export opportunities. Neighboring Mozambique, for instance, imports over 30,000 tonnes of poultry annually from South Africa and South America, yet Malawi — due to logistical inefficiencies and policy barriers — has not penetrated this lucrative market. The Delivery Lab seeks to change this by identifying ways to make Malawian poultry products more competitive regionally.
The Delivery Lab has set five core objectives: establishing a shared national vision for poultry growth, designing a reform roadmap, developing an accountability framework, implementing a monitoring system, and ensuring strong commitments from both government and private stakeholders. Policy discussions at the Lab focused on revising taxes on soybean cake, reviewing farm-gate price controls, and introducing export facilitation measures through public-private partnerships. These reforms align with the Second Agricultural Productivity Programme (SAPP II), which seeks to promote agribusiness and climate-resilient farming.
AGRA’s Country Representative, Chipo Kachiwala, applauded Malawi’s bold initiative, describing it as a vital step toward unlocking the sector’s potential. She noted that poultry farming is among the fastest-growing agricultural value chains in Africa, with immense capacity to lift families out of poverty. “Our goal is to build a resilient and inclusive agri-food system that empowers farmers, strengthens industries, and drives national development,” she said.
Malawi’s progress will be showcased later this year at the Poultry Futures Forum 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia, where regional leaders will share strategies and commitments to transform Africa’s poultry sector. With renewed focus, collaboration, and accountability, Malawi’s poultry industry is now poised to take flight—ushering in a new era of growth, innovation, and food security.
