Zenag GM Stanley Leahy: Poultry Industry Driving SME Growth, Job Creation and Food Security

Lae, Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Zenag Chicken General Manager Stanley Leahy delivered a compelling address at the National Agriculture Industry Public-Private Sector Partnership Conference, highlighting the critical role of the poultry sector in empowering Papua New Guinean smallholder farmers, boosting employment, and ensuring national food security.

Leahy outlined how the poultry industry, particularly through Zenag’s efforts, directly supports over 36,000 small-to-medium enterprise (SME) farms across the country by distributing more than 300,000-day-old chicks weekly. Most SME farmers raise small batches of 50 birds to maturity within six to seven weeks, creating rapid income opportunities even in areas with limited land access.

    “What makes poultry so successful at the SME level is its simplicity,” Leahy explained. “Birds don’t require much space, and PNG is free from major global poultry diseases, making it easier for farmers to grow and profit.”

Despite infrastructure and logistical challenges—particularly in transporting live birds to remote regions—Leahy praised industry responses, such as the development of regional hatcheries in Wewak, Wau, Kokopo, and Kimbe, which now rely on moving fertile eggs instead of day-old chicks to ensure consistent supply.

A major concern, however, remains the biosecurity landscape. Leahy strongly advocated for continued government support in preserving PNG’s disease-free status.

    “Our biosecurity is the cornerstone of our success,” he said. “Policies cost nothing but deliver massive returns—jobs, investment, tax revenue.”

Zenag alone invested over K65 million in 2024 to expand processing and production capacity, creating hundreds of jobs and helping meet rising domestic demand, particularly during import restrictions caused by bird flu outbreaks in Australia and New Zealand.

While Leahy acknowledged government support, he cautioned against overregulation and warned of unintended consequences if increased bureaucracy or taxation were imposed on farmers.

    “Farmers don’t need more taxes or bureaucracy. The poultry industry thrives because of free market principles. Let’s not overcomplicate what’s already working.”

Looking ahead, he called on the government to focus on essential infrastructure investment—in energy, roads, ports, and law and order—as critical enablers for the continued growth of agriculture and poultry.

    “About 10% of our workforce is in security. Our farms look like prisons with electric fences and towers—not because we want them to, but because we must. That cost is passed on to consumers.”

Despite global supply chain disruptions, Leahy proudly noted that chicken prices in PNG have remained stable over the last three years, and supermarket shelves have remained stocked—proof, he said, of the industry’s resilience and strategic investment.

As Zenag and other producers look to expand into exports, Leahy underscored the need for continued collaboration between the private sector and government to secure sustainable growth in agriculture.