President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana imports nearly $400 million worth of chicken each year, describing the situation as a source of national shame.
He reiterated his government’s plans to support 54 individuals to produce four million birds, equivalent to 10,000 metric tons of chicken, as part of efforts to reduce imports.
Speaking at the launch of the government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme in Techiman, Bono East Region, the President emphasized his administration’s commitment to advancing livestock development.
This includes enhancing cattle production and the rearing of small ruminants such as goats and sheep, as well as improving access to high-quality breeds.
The livestock production component of the programme will also prioritize the development of agro-production enclaves and infrastructure. This includes the implementation of irrigation systems, improved road networks, provision of power supply, and establishment of warehousing facilities to attract private investment.
President Mahama stated that the programme will enhance both the production and processing of agricultural produce. To kickstart the initiative, he presented maize seeds, fertilizers, a Kia truck, and tractors to various institutions, including the Ghana Prisons Service and the National Service Authority.
He called for unity and collective commitment in transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector into a key driver of national growth and prosperity.
According to him, the Feed Ghana Programme is not merely a policy, but a proactive initiative with the potential to significantly transform the economy.
While acknowledging challenges in the sector, the President expressed optimism that the programme would yield positive results.
He urged farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners to collaborate to ensure the initiative’s success.
The programme seeks to implement strategic measures to increase food production, encourage the adoption of modern farming techniques, improve infrastructure, and establish agro-industrial zones across the country.
Key interventions include the introduction of smart agriculture through the establishment of Farmers’ Service Centres nationwide. These centres will offer essential services such as mechanization, quality inputs, financial support, market access, primary processing, and training.
President Mahama also announced the creation of farm banks or land banks in designated irrigable areas to support young agri-entrepreneurs and enhance national food production.
The second component of the programme focuses on grains and legumes development, aimed at increasing the production of maize, rice, soya beans, and sorghum for consumption, agro-processing, and export.
The third component, known as the Vegetable Development Project or Yeredua, seeks to reduce imports from neighbouring countries by promoting the local cultivation of vegetables.
The President underscored the importance of investing in controlled-environment farming, including greenhouse technologies, urban and peri-urban agriculture, and encouraging schools to cultivate vegetables through backyard gardening.
The fourth component promotes institutional farming to empower households and communities to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and garden eggs for self-sufficiency.
Support will also be extended to Senior High Schools to access land for crop and livestock farming.
The fifth component involves the revitalization of the poultry industry, under the “Nkoko Nketenkete” project, aimed at strengthening local poultry production to reduce dependency on imports.
