AgDevCo

AgDevCo is pleased to have supported the Hatch Africa group (‘Hatch’) to organise a two-day technical seminar on the 3rd and 4th of April in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The knowledge-sharing event brought together poultry experts, including SASSO from Hendrix Genetics, The Poultry Practice, MSD Animal Health, as well as over 40 technical managers from each of the countries in which Hatch is active (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire). The objective of the seminar was to share the latest technical insights, exchange experiences, foster closer cross-regional collaboration, and strengthen the technical foundation for SASSO dual-purpose poultry production in Africa.

Hatch is the largest producer of SASSO day-old-chicks in the world. In 2024, Hatch Africa continued its mission to make farmers healthier and wealthier across its six markets by delivering over 47 million chicks through a network of c.29,000 rural agribusinesses (agents), of whom 34% were women. This resulted in the production of more than 3.2 billion eggs and contributed c.$500 million in additional farmer income in rural communities.

AgDevCo is the largest external investor in Hatch and has been invested in the company since 2016. AgDevCo supported the company’s expansion from Ethiopia to five new markets across Africa. AgDevCo is a long-term partner and its support goes beyond capital, with technical assistance being provided across all six markets. AgDevCo’s Technical Assistance Facility contributed to the technical seminar as a knowledge-sharing initiative.

The seminar included a deep-dive into the following topics:

• Introduction of SASSO’s new management guide for its dual-purpose breed (SA51A)
• Biosecurity strategies for the control of Avian Influenza 
• Vaccination strategies
• Optimisation of nutrition and feed management (monitoring and quality control)
• Key daily routines on breeder farms and optimisation of hatchery management
• Appropriate housing and maintenance of water quality
• Heat stress reduction strategies
• Digital tools for production

There were representatives from every part of the poultry production chain, from breeder farms to hatcheries to feed mills. There was active engagement from the participants and their diverse backgrounds enabled them to share multiple perspectives on technical challenges. According to participants, the energy in the room was exceptionally high throughout the event. They left not only equipped with new technical insights through peer learning, but also with a strengthened sense of community. This event would not have been the same without the excellent contributions from various specialists from the participating organisations.

By bringing together experts and Hatch technical managers to exchange knowledge, Hatch - with support from AgDevCo - is laying the groundwork for smarter and more sustainable poultry farming as it scales its operations across Africa.