Benguela: The coastal province of Benguela produces roughly 20 million eggs annually, as reported by the provincial director of agriculture and fisheries, Leilande da Costa. He noted that last year's production reached 21 million, which he described as reasonable under the circumstances.

According to Angola Press News Agency, da Costa highlighted that broiler chicken production lags behind egg production, with only five operational poultry farms currently active and another five in recovery. This disparity complicates precise reporting on production figures. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has designed a project aimed at reversing this trend both nationally and within Benguela province. Efforts are underway to revitalize poultry farms that have been lost over time.

The director emphasized the importance of increasing production capacity in underperforming areas. In response to questions about government support, da Costa mentioned financing programs and the sharing of technical knowledge as key strategies to ensure operational competitiveness at both national and regional levels. He expressed the government's ambition to end chicken imports in the short to medium term, contingent on the successful implementation of these strategies to secure food security for the province and the country.

Da Costa also addressed livestock in the province, reporting approximately 300,000 head of cattle, which supports meat and milk production, including goat meat. Despite producing around a thousand tons of beef and forty thousand tons of goat meat last year, he stressed the need for increased production. He suggested that opening an industrial slaughterhouse with the capacity to process goats and pigs could bolster production and sustain the industry.

He acknowledged concerns about livestock deaths, particularly cattle, and expressed solidarity with affected breeders. He noted the absence of precise data on losses due to cultural reasons but assured that a survey is nearing completion, with definitive data expected within fifteen days. The director attributed the challenges to a sharp reduction in available drinking water and pasture. To address these issues, efforts are being made to recover irrigation ditches and construct troughs for livestock hydration, with ongoing monitoring to prevent further deterioration.