About ETHIOPEX
Poultry meat and eggs are major animal-source foods globally, and in Ethiopia, poultry production is a key livestock subsector that supports family nutrition, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment. The country’s poultry population is about 57 million, mostly indigenous breeds (78.85%) under low-yield scavenging systems, though exotic breeds in intensive systems are increasing.
Annual per capita consumption is among the lowest worldwide at 57 eggs and 2.85 kg of chicken meat, far below the East African average. Recognizing its potential, the government aims to boost egg production from 2.8 million to 5.5 billion by 2029 and raise poultry meat’s share of national consumption from 9% to 30% by 2030, with ambitions for surplus production and exports. While Ethiopia exported 35 tons of live chickens worth $88,572 to Somalia in 2020, it remains a net importer, though industrial and integrated systems are expanding and foreign investment in the sector is growing.
