Nigerian Startup Cubeseed Africa Targets Poultry Middlemen to Lower Chicken Prices

A Nigerian agricultural technology startup, Cubeseed Africa, has unveiled an ambitious plan to disrupt the countrys poultry value chain by eliminating intermediaries and bringing much-needed structure to the ₦900 billion market.

The company has developed a digital platform that connects poultry farmers directly to buyers, cutting out layers of middlemen that currently inflate prices and reduce profit margins for producers.

At the heart of Cubeseeds solution is an escrow payment system designed to protect both farmers and buyers during transactions. The platform also facilitates credit partnerships, giving farmers access to working capital that has traditionally been difficult to secure from conventional lenders.

Since its launch, Cubeseed Africa has onboarded more than 4,000 farmers onto its platform, creating a growing network of poultry producers spanning multiple states across Nigeria. The company says its ultimate goal is to make chicken more affordable for Nigerian consumers while simultaneously boosting profitability for farmers.

Nigerias poultry industry remains largely fragmented, with an estimated 70% of production controlled by small-scale farmers who struggle with limited market access and price exploitation by middlemen. This structural inefficiency has contributed to high poultry prices despite the countrys vast agricultural potential.

The startup is betting that technology-driven transparency and direct marketplace access can solve these perennial challenges. By providing farmers with real-time pricing information and connecting them to bulk buyers including restaurants, hotels, and retailers Cubeseed aims to capture more value for producers at the farm gate.

Industry analysts note that Nigerias poultry sector faces multiple headwinds including rising feed costs, infrastructure gaps, and import competition. However, solutions that reduce friction in the supply chain could unlock significant value in a market where demand for affordable protein continues to outstrip supply.

Cubeseeds model reflects a broader trend of agritech innovation sweeping across West Africa, where startups are increasingly targeting inefficient agricultural value chains with digital solutions. The sector has attracted significant investor interest in recent years, though profitability remains elusive for many players.

The company will need to scale rapidly and demonstrate unit economics that work for both smallholder farmers and commercial buyers to achieve its mission of cheaper chicken for Nigerian households. Success could provide a template for transforming other fragmented agricultural markets across the continent.