Developing a strong and united poultry industry and improving lab facilities that will help promote feed quality were the major outcomes this quarter of an ongoing U.S. Grains Council (USGC) program in Tanzania, funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress grant.

This initiative was launched last spring to promote quality feed formulations for poultry; develop self-sufficient industry associations for poultry producers and feed manufacturers; and improve broiler and layer production through training seminars. Collectively, these activities will help local feed producers and farmers provide a higher-quality product to consumers and, over the long term, build demand for coarse grains used as feed. 

“The main success of the program this quarter is in the associations,” said Anne Zaczek, USGC manager of global development programs. “In December, three of the Tanzanian poultry associations traveled to a symposium which they returned from with the recommendation to develop an umbrella association by mid-2015.”

The program also saw success in developing the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), which is part of the effort toward improving feed quality.

“The CVL is moving forward thanks to a push from the Tanzanian Ministry of Feed and Livestock to become the government certified lab of Tanzania,” she said. “The ministry helped the lab workers realize they need the Council’s help to gain necessary certifications.

“Moving forward the Council will focus on creating an umbrella association as well as developing and implementing a business plan for the CVL.” 

Click here to view more photos from Zaczek’s most recent travels to Tanzania.

The Council published updates about this program in a previous edition of Global Update, accessible here.