Despite Mozambique’s economic growth over the last decade, critical levels of stunting amongst the population persist, partly driven by inadequate nutrient intake. Eggs are an excellent and affordable source of protein and represent an opportunity to address nutritional deficiencies in the Mozambican population. African egg consumption is about 40 eggs per person per year, while Mozambicans consume only four eggs per year per capita.
This briefing paper presents a supply chain analysis for eggs in Mozambique, with a focus on the barriers and possible mechanisms for scaling.
The results show that the main constraints in the egg value chain in Mozambique include: (1)
- the high cost of feed,
- the high cost of pullets,
- difficulty accessing day-old chicks for pullets,
- uncontrolled importation of eggs from neighbouring countries,
- limited experience with commercial production of eggs,
- unstable electricity supply,
- high financing costs, and
- volatile exchange rates.
There are certain opportunities for the private sector within the Mozambican egg supply chain, namely domestic market expansion, increased usage of domestically produced maize and soya for feed, producing and selling day-old layer chicks or pullets, and leveraging a favourable regulatory environment for the importation of birds and essential equipment and inputs