Specialist agriculture investor AgDevCo has committed a US$10 million senior debt loan to Hybrid Poultry, a vertically integrated poultry producer in Zambia. This investment aims to enhance Hybrid’s processing capacity through the construction of a modern abattoir, positioning the company to meet the growing domestic demand and explore regional export opportunities.
Hybrid Poultry operates a vertically integrated model encompassing the entire poultry value chain, from breeder farms to processed poultry products. The company is part of the African Poultry Development Group, which has operations in Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. With over 1,200 employees, Hybrid supplies more than 2,000 smallholder farmers across Zambia with day-old chicks, contributing significantly to the development of the poultry sector. The company’s products are sold to major retailers and restaurants across Zambia.
The new abattoir, designed with sustainability at its core, will be the largest of its kind in the region. It incorporates advanced energy-efficiency measures and wastewater treatment systems, aligning with global best practices in sustainable agriculture. This facility will not only cater to the rapidly growing Zambian market but also enable exports to Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The investment is expected to create approximately 270 new direct jobs, contributing to local economic development and skills enhancement. Beyond direct employment, the project will stimulate ancillary industries, including feed production, logistics, and retail, further bolstering the local economy.
Zambia’s poultry production is projected to reach approximately 57,750 metric tons by 2028, up from 53,840 metric tons in 2023, reflecting a steady annual growth rate of 1.1%. This growth underscores the resilience and gradual scaling of Zambia’s poultry sector over the decades. The expansion of processing capacity through investments like AgDevCo’s is poised to support this upward trajectory, meeting both domestic demand and regional export potential.
AgDevCo is a specialist impact investor operating exclusively in the agriculture sector in Africa. With US$340 million assets under management, the organization has made over 88 investments, of which 51 have exited. AgDevCo’s mission is to build successful African agribusinesses through long-term investment and support, delivering positive impact at scale. The organisation’s investments leverage private capital into socially responsible farming and agri-processing businesses in Africa, benefiting smallholder farmers and local communities.
