Poultry production in Venezuela has been idle for the past 20 years or so. I remember when I used to work for a feed ingredients company, I used to travel often to Venezuela to visit one of the largest companies in that region for technical service. At that time, it was one of the top companies in Latin America. But things have changed over the years. Venezuelan poultry companies have gotten smaller, many went out of business, some new companies emerged, but production levels have not recovered yet.
In 2022, Venezuela produced 216 million broilers and had 12.6 million laying hens in production. Chicken per capita consumption is the lowest in the region with roughly 16 kg per person. That is less than half of the region’s average of 33.67 kg per person. Egg consumption is one of the lowest (just above Nicaragua) with 108 eggs per person, less than half of the region’s average of 230, as well.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Fenavi, the Venezuelan National Poultry Producers Federation – which is still alive – is back on track with its national poultry congress. After 16 years, the federation will carry out its 11th National Congress on July 18-20 in Caracas.
It will have 36 keynote conferences on the productivity and competitiveness of the Venezuelan poultry sector. Likewise, there will be an exhibition area of more than 1,000 m2 and 72 booths, where the country's producers, supply chain providers and poultry products companies will exhibit. And the congress is free for attendants.
Over the years, I have been in touch with Fenavi’s executive director, Francisco Tagliapietra. He has not lost hope in his country’s poultry industry and has gone through difficult circumstances. Kudos to him.
I am really glad that the Venezuelan poultry industry is coming back to life with this event. I think it means a lot for the country itself and for the region. The opportunities are there, low consumption being one of them, so there is a lot of room to grow.
What do you think?
