President John Mahama has expressed concern over Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported chicken, revealing that the country spends nearly $400 million annually on poultry imports.
Describing the situation as a national embarrassment, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting 54 individuals to produce four million birds, equivalent to 10,000 metric tons of chicken, under a targeted initiative to boost local poultry production.
President Mahama made the announcement during the launch of the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, a flagship agricultural initiative, at Techiman in the Bono East Region.
He explained that the programme aims to enhance livestock development, focusing on cattle, goats, and sheep, as well as providing farmers with access to high-quality breeds to strengthen Ghana’s livestock industry.
The President also revealed that the livestock component will prioritize the development of agro production enclaves and infrastructure, including irrigation systems, improved roads, reliable power supply, and warehousing facilities to attract private investment.
“Through this programme, we seek to not only expand production but also ensure the processing and market readiness of agricultural produce,” he emphasized.
As part of the launch, President Mahama presented maize seeds, fertilizers, a Kia truck, and tractors to institutions such as the Ghana Prisons Service and the National Service Authority to facilitate the programme’s rollout.
Calling for unity in the sector, President Mahama described the Feed Ghana Programme as a “proactive initiative” rather than just another policy, and urged farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners to collaborate to ensure its success.
The programme is designed to implement strategic measures to scale up food production, encourage the adoption of modern farming techniques, improve infrastructure, and establish agro-industrial zones nationwide.
Key interventions include the creation of Farmer Service Centres across the country, which will offer mechanization services, quality inputs, financial assistance, market access, primary processing, and training for farmers.
President Mahama also announced the establishment of farm banks, or land banks, in designated irrigable zones to support young agri-entrepreneurs and help increase national food production.
Additionally, the programme will target grains and legumes such as maize, rice, soya beans, and sorghum for both domestic consumption and export.
Another pillar of the programme, the Vegetable Development Project — dubbed Yeredua — seeks to cut down on vegetable imports by promoting local cultivation through controlled environmental farming methods, including greenhouse technologies and urban agriculture.
The President also emphasized the role of schools in promoting backyard gardening to encourage self-sufficiency in vegetable production.
Furthermore, the initiative will support institutional farming, allowing households, communities, and Senior High Schools to cultivate vegetables and livestock for enhanced food security.
The fifth component of the programme focuses on revitalizing Ghana’s poultry industry through the “Nkoko Nketenkete” project, aimed at empowering local farmers and reducing dependence on poultry imports.