State of the Industry: Dual-Purpose Poultry in Africa
We’re proud to share the State of the Industry: Dual-Purpose Poultry in Africa report, the first continent-wide look at the sector’s size, structure, and trajectory.
A note from our leadership
Across Africa, millions of rural households depend on poultry as a source of nutrition, income, and resilience. Dual-purpose poultry (DPP) has become an increasingly important part of that picture, yet until this survey, no one had mapped the sector’s size, structure, or trajectory at a continental scale.
This report changes that. The ‘State of the Industry: Dual-Purpose Poultry in Africa,’ is the first comprehensive look at the DPP industry across Africa, and we hope it gives poultry companies, development organizations, researchers, and practitioners a foundation to build on as they work to expand opportunities for rural farming families across Africa.
On behalf of the World Poultry Foundation, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to every company who generously shared their time, experience, and data to make this report possible. Your willingness to contribute has created an invaluable resource that establishes the first industry benchmark against which future growth can be measured.
One of the most encouraging findings from this survey is that it validates many of the principles that have guided the World Poultry Foundation’s work for more than a decade.
The survey reinforces that DPP occupies a unique position in the market. These birds should not be viewed as alternatives to commercial broilers or layers, but rather as a significant improvement over traditional village chickens for rural smallholder farmers. When positioned correctly, DPP offers families an opportunity to improve household nutrition while generating additional income through both meat and egg production.
The findings also affirm the value of the Brooder Unit model. By ensuring chicks receive proper brooding, vaccination, and early management before reaching farmers, this approach not only improves bird survival and farmer success but also creates new rural enterprises that strengthen local distribution systems and expand access to improved poultry genetics.
Perhaps most importantly, the survey confirms that genetics alone are not enough. The companies experiencing the strongest and most sustainable growth are those that invest in farmer training, technical support, and ongoing extension services. Success comes not simply from selling a better chick, but from equipping farmers with the knowledge and confidence to manage those birds well. This has long been a cornerstone of the WPF’s approach, and it is gratifying to see these principles reflected so clearly across the industry.
Finally, this report also highlights the tremendous opportunity that still lies ahead. Demand for DPP continues to grow, yet significant gaps remain in infrastructure, financing, market positioning, and farmer access. These challenges are real, but they are also solvable. More importantly, they provide a roadmap for where industry, governments, donors, and development partners can work together to accelerate progress.
We hope this publication becomes more than a snapshot in time. Our vision is for this survey to become a regular measure of the industry’s evolution, providing data that informs investment decisions, strengthens value chains, and helps expand access to improved poultry for millions more rural households across Africa.
Randall Ennis
President and Chairman of the Board
World Poultry Foundation
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