Accra: The Government has initiated the procurement of birds and battery cages for the 'Nkoko Nkitinkiti' initiative, aiming to boost poultry production among farmers and households. Mr. Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, highlighted plans to officially launch the initiative in the coming months, with pilot projects expected to begin soon. This announcement was made at the inaugural AgriFair organized by Citi FM and Channel One Television in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the 'Nkoko Nkitinkiti' project seeks to rejuvenate the country's poultry industry and decrease dependence on imported chicken. The initiative aims to empower 55,000 households to produce eggs and poultry, creating jobs and enhancing food security. With an annual expenditure of $300 million on chicken imports, the program is expected to reduce the country's import expenses.
Mr. Opoku emphasized the project's imminent commencement, stating that the procurement process for birds, a crucial component of the initiative, is underway. He noted, "We are in the process of procuring the birds and also the battery cages for distribution to the various farmers or households."
The government has identified approximately 50 commercial-scale poultry farmers capable of managing 80,000 birds each. With financial backing, these farmers could produce four million chickens for the Ghanaian market, aiming to achieve chicken sufficiency and reduce import bills. Mr. Opoku stated, "That alone can push Ghana's capacity to above 80 per cent, and that will be gradually inching to the sufficiency level."
Addressing calls for immediate restrictions on chicken imports, Mr. Opoku explained that with national consumption at around 400,000 metric tonnes and production at 15,000 tonnes, such a ban would be detrimental. He remarked, "We are now working to increase poultry production. If we are able to increase our production level to, let's say 80 per cent, then we can place a ban to protect local producers."
Mr. Opoku expressed concerns over the preference for foreign goods over local ones, urging Ghanaians to support local producers by choosing made-in-Ghana products. He noted, "Every expenditure that is made on the Ghanaian-made products will go to increase job opportunities for our own people."
The three-day AgriFair brought together farmers, agribusiness professionals, students, and policymakers, showcasing food items such as yam, plantain, cassava, fresh tomatoes, and processed foods like groundnut and tomato paste. The event also featured an 'Agric Clinic' for expert consultations and tailored agribusiness advice.
