Specialist agriculture investor AgDevCo has announced a significant investment in Hybrid, a leading vertically integrated poultry producer based in Zambia. The $10 million senior debt facility will support the construction of a state-of-the-art poultry processing plant, marking a major step forward in Hybrid’s expansion strategy.
Hybrid is part of the African Poultry Development Group, which operates across Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The company’s fully integrated business model covers the entire poultry value chain, from breeder farms and hatcheries to feed production, grow-out farms, and the sale of processed poultry products.
With a workforce of over 1,200 employees, Hybrid plays a vital role in Zambia’s agricultural ecosystem. It supplies more than 2,000 farmers nationwide with day-old chicks, helping to sustain smallholder livelihoods and improve poultry productivity. In addition to supporting farmers, Hybrid distributes processed poultry to major retailers and restaurant chains throughout Zambia.
AgDevCo’s funding will enable Hybrid to construct a modern abattoir, significantly increasing its processing capacity to meet rising domestic and regional demand. The facility is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating advanced energy-efficient technologies and wastewater treatment systems.
Jim Henderson, Managing Director at AgDevCo, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment:
We are pleased to be partnering with Hybrid to make this major investment in the Zambian poultry industry. The expansion will drive local job creation and skills development while strengthening regional food security.
Richard Keeley, CEO of Hybrid, highlighted the transformative impact of the new facility:
This state-of-the-art plant represents a significant milestone for Hybrid and the region. Once completed, it will be the largest poultry processing facility of its kind in Southern Africa. It will allow us to meet the growing demand in Zambia and expand our reach to markets such as Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We are proud to have AgDevCo as a strategic partner in bringing this vision to life.
This investment underscores AgDevCo’s commitment to supporting scalable agribusinesses that promote inclusive growth, sustainability, and food security across sub-Saharan Africa.
