Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture has officially signed a landmark $10.15 million contract to construct a massive, state-of-the-art poultry hatchery capable of incubating 63 million eggs annually. The vital infrastructure project, funded through a strategic development loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), aims to significantly boost the nation’s domestic poultry production capacity and modernize its entire agricultural value chain.
The high-profile agreement was formally signed by Dr. Fikru Regassa, State Minister for Livestock and Fishery Development, and Jari Zhao, the designated representative of Agrifam Private Limited Company. Executed under the specialized Ethiopia Poultry Value Chain Development Program, this milestone initiative heavily focuses on delivering high-quality, accessible production inputs directly to smallholder farmers nationwide.
According to the official contractual terms, Agrifam PLC is expected to mobilize resources and launch construction operations within just one week following the contract’s final ratification. The entire facility is strategically planned for full completion within a strict 12-month timeline, ensuring a rapid turnaround from groundbreaking to active commercial output.
Once fully operational, this automated facility will dramatically scale up the country’s domestic supply of premium, healthy day-old chicks. By effectively solving the long-standing shortages of quality agricultural inputs, the new hatchery will directly enhance rural productivity, stabilize market supply chains, and play a pivotal role in strengthening Ethiopia’s broader food security goals.
This initiative represents a crucial component of Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts to transition toward an efficient, market-oriented livestock system and foster sustainable economic growth. Ultimately, this modern facility is widely expected to revolutionize the domestic poultry ecosystem, empowering small-scale farmers and driving competitive commercial agriculture for years to come.