Africa is a continent with a large population, abundant resources and great development potential, but it also faces multiple challenges such as poverty, hunger and disease. In order to improve the living standards and nutritional status of African people, and improve the efficiency and quality of agricultural production, the demand for meat and eggs in the African market is increasing. As a low-cost, high-return, easy-to-operate agricultural method, chicken farming is becoming a popular choice for African farmers and entrepreneurs.
However, raising chickens in Africa is not an easy task. Due to long-term war and economic backwardness, many parts of Africa lack advanced chicken raising technology and equipment, as well as stable feed supplies and vaccinations. This leads to inefficient chicken farming, high case fatality rates, and poor product quality. At the same time, due to Africa's vast territory, inconvenient transportation, and poor market information, chicken farmers often find it difficult to sell their own products, or are driven down by middlemen.
Against this backdrop, some experienced and funded Chinese see an opportunity. They have used their accumulated chicken raising technology and management experience in China to establish large-scale, standardized and scientific chicken farms in Africa. They have introduced excellent breeders and feed, adopted modern facilities and equipment, and implemented strict epidemic prevention and testing measures. Not only did they provide a lot of meat and eggs for the local area, but they also created jobs and tax revenue for the local area. They have also established good cooperative relations with local governments and communities, supporting local public welfare undertakings such as education, health and environmental protection.
According to reports, there are currently many Chinese in Africa engaged in chicken farming, and they are distributed in Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa and other countries. Some of them are entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals who have traveled directly from China to Africa to invest in chicken farming, and some are technicians or managers employed by Chinese or local chicken companies or farms. Some of them have been living in Africa for many years, while others are new immigrants who have only arrived in recent years. Some of them have achieved great success and gains, and some are still struggling and exploring.
A typical example is Chen Chengbin 2 from Qingdao, Shandong. After graduating from Qingdao Agricultural University in 2013 with a major in animal husbandry, he set up a "green farm" in the tropical jungle 150 kilometers from Lagos, Nigeria's largest city. Using the knowledge and skills he learned during school, he rented a plot of land locally and started raising breeders, broilers and laying hens. He also grew crops such as corn, soybeans, and peanuts to make feed. His farm covers about 200 acres and raises more than 60,000 hens and can produce more than 30,000 eggs a day to sell to Ogun State and surrounding areas in Nigeria. His farm also employs more than 30 local employees, providing them with a steady income and benefits. His farm has also been rated as an "Excellent Agricultural Demonstration Base" by the local government, and has received extensive attention and praise from the local media and society.
Chen Chengbin said that his original intention of raising chickens in Africa was to realize his dream and help African people improve their lives. He said that Africa is a place full of opportunities and challenges, and the chicken business is hard but meaningful. He said he earns about 40,000 yuan a month, much more than doing the same job in China. Not only can he meet his living needs, he said, but he has also been able to save some money to expand his business or return home to invest in other projects. He said that he intends to develop in Africa for a long time, and also hopes to attract more Chinese to raise chickens in Africa and jointly promote friendly cooperation between China and Africa.