A Practical Vision for Food Security in Kuwait

In an interview with a delegation representing the Society of Agricultural Engineers, we had the honor of meeting His Excellency Khalifa Al-Ajil, Minister of Commerce and Industry, on Thursday, January 12, 2026. His Excellency’s primary recommendation was to emphasize the importance of food security and his commitment to finding the best possible solutions to fulfill this national duty. Accordingly, over the past forty years, I have authored several articles addressing this vital issue, and I present below a summary of the most important steps toward achieving food security: First: The Current State of Animal Feed There are only two companies with high production levels, while the rest of the poultry production companies suffer from high feed prices and low feed-to-meat conversion rates compared to high-production companies, which operate according to international standards. The global feed conversion ratio ranges between 1.5–1.8 kg of feed per kg of meat, whereas in Kuwait this ratio is no less than 2.2 kg of feed per kg of meat. This is attributed to manufacturing quality, spoilage, inconsistent feed formulations, and other factors. Solution: Establish a state-of-the-art feed mill with a production capacity of no less than 100 tons per hour to meet Kuwait’s needs for poultry, livestock, and cattle feed. This plant must also be supported by a comprehensive technical team responsible for determining production specifications, including vaccination and sterilization, with delivery carried out via trucks dedicated to filling silos at various production centers. Second: Egg Production Small egg-producing companies suffer from limited development capabilities, in addition to high transportation costs due to low production volumes. Solution: Establish a centralized center to collect eggs from small farms, where eggs are inspected and packed according to market requirements under the brand name “Kuwait Eggs,” while utilizing broken eggs by converting them into sterilized liquid egg used in restaurants—a system applied globally. Third: Agricultural Products Agricultural marketing continues to suffer from obvious chaos, which prevents farmers from receiving fair value for their production. The Solution: In more than one article, I have called for the establishment of a unified center to receive, sort, and pack agricultural produce, then distribute it directly to markets without brokers or middlemen, while adopting a standardized labeling system for products based on consumer demand, as is the practice in neighboring countries. For the record, in 1985 I arranged a visit to an agricultural company to inspect vegetable collection and sorting centers in the Netherlands, which remain to this day a model of excellence in agricultural marketing development and efficiency. Fourth: Broiler and Layer Breeding Stock Poultry farms periodically require fertilized eggs for broilers and day-old chicks for layers on an approximately monthly basis. Solution: Establish a company specializing in the production of breeding stock to supply the quantities required by the local market, with the participation of all producers, thereby ensuring stability and sustainability in this vital sector. To implement such strategic projects, I recommend collaborating with specialized consultants from top-tier agricultural universities, similar to the approach taken in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Therefore, I recommend establishing this project as quickly as possible to advance Kuwait’s agricultural sector. O Allah, I have conveyed the message; O Allah, bear witness.