Ibri hatchery project boosts poultry production and food security

IBRI: An ambitious Omani entrepreneur is helping strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s food security system through a pioneering poultry initiative that has grown into the first chick hatchery in the Wilayat of Ibri, contributing to local production and economic diversification.
The 'Al Najid Heights' project, established by Bader bin Salim al Kalbani in Al Dhahirah Governorate, has evolved from a private investment into a model national venture supporting poultry production and enhancing supply chain efficiency in line with the country’s food security goals.
Al Kalbani said the project was born out of a passion for animal production and a desire to make productive use of available environmental resources to create sustainable income and serve the community.
His journey began in 2003 with the purchase of a small farm in Ibri. While seeking an additional source of income, he explored agriculture and livestock activities and identified poultry hatching as a promising but relatively rare venture at the time. Starting with a modest incubator capable of hatching just 350 eggs, primarily local chicken eggs, he gradually expanded operations before establishing a small commercial hatchery in 2009.
In 2024, Al Kalbani inaugurated a larger and more advanced hatchery equipped with high-performance incubation technology, reinforcing its position as the first hatchery dedicated to chick production in Al Dhahirah Governorate.
He explained that the hatchery follows a specialised production process beginning with egg storage in cooling rooms, followed by sorting and arrangement in dedicated trays.
Eggs are then transferred to incubation halls for an 18-day incubation period before moving to modern hatching units for a further three days, after which chicks are collected, packaged and delivered to customers and farms.
The facility currently has a production capacity of around 700,000 chicks annually, while actual production has reached approximately 450,000 chicks per year.
Most of the output is marketed across governorates including Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah South and Al Sharqiyah, highlighting the project’s growing contribution to domestic food supply chains.
Al Kalbani noted that his long journey in poultry production strengthened his expertise and reaffirmed the importance of perseverance and continuous learning. Looking ahead, he aims to establish an integrated poultry production cycle — from eggs and chick production to rearing and slaughtering through modern processing facilities — to further support national food security objectives.
He also praised the support provided by the Directorate-General of Agricultural Wealth and Water Resources in Al Dhahirah Governorate and Ibri Municipality, noting that awareness programmes, vaccination initiatives and the selection of resilient poultry breeds have helped improve production quality and efficiency.
Strict sterilisation and biosecurity measures are implemented throughout the hatching process to ensure healthy, disease-free chicks, helping reduce mortality rates and increase breeder confidence in local production.
Eng Mohammed bin Ali al Shandoudi, Director of the Livestock Department at the Directorate General of Agricultural Wealth and Water Resources in Al Dhahirah, described the project as a strategic addition to Oman’s food security efforts.
He noted that Oman has achieved approximately 62 per cent self-sufficiency in white meat, adding that local hatchery initiatives such as Al Najid Heights are essential for reducing reliance on imports and ensuring market stability.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources continues to support entrepreneurs through technical guidance, monitoring and advisory services to ensure projects meet veterinary and production standards.
Al Shandoudi added that the hatchery is contributing to economic activity in the governorate by creating employment opportunities and supporting breeders and small farms through easier access to locally produced chicks at lower logistical costs. — ONA