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Agriculture

Home-grown chickens could end food insecurity in Africa

───   SABRINA DEAN 15:29 Wed, 28 Sep 2016

Home-grown chickens could end food insecurity in Africa | News Article
Photo: Gallo Images

Bloemfontein - The richest man in the world has said that if he was living in poverty and was faced with chronic hunger, he would farm with chickens to survive.


Agricultural economist Dr Kobus Laubscher says the billionaire Bill Gates has calculated that with just five chickens, a person can start to address household food insecurity.

Laubscher says Africa currently imports poultry products to the value of $3-Billion, or about 40-billion Rand. The continent is also estimated to import as much as 83% of its food.

He says research has shown the potential value of home-grown chickens but that this needs to be supported by a strong grain sector:

“According to The Conversation, a publication from 20 September 2016, there is sufficient proof that if Africa can feed its chickens, the Continent will be in a position to feed its people.

“Sufficient grain production can lead the positive turn-around in terms of reliance on imported food.”


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