Ghana Launches Poultry Boost with Nkokɔ Nketenkete Initiative
Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced that each constituency will receive 10,000 birds under the Nkokɔ Nketenkete initiative, a flagship program aimed at revitalizing the country’s poultry sector. According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative is part of the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, targeting 60,000 households nationwide.
The program seeks to increase Ghana’s poultry self-sufficiency from 12% to over 75% by 2028, reducing the country’s reliance on imports. Ghana currently spends over $350 million annually on poultry imports, a situation President John Dramani Mahama described as “unsustainable”.
Under the initiative, 50 anchor farmers will receive 80,000 birds each, with logistics and technical support, producing 4 million birds. Additionally, 500 small and medium-scale farmers will produce 3 million birds. The government will also distribute 3 million birds across all 276 constituencies, benefiting 60,000 households.
According to Graphic Online, the government plans to release 10 million birds onto the market this year to stabilize the poultry sector. Minister Opoku emphasized the urgency of revitalizing the industry, citing Ghana’s current poultry production of only 15,000 tonnes, compared to imports of 324,000 tonnes annually.
The Nkokɔ Nketenkete initiative aims to empower local farmers, promote self-sufficiency, and create jobs. President Mahama urged Ghanaians to support the initiative, saying, “Let us take pride in producing what we eat and eating what we produce”.
The government plans to establish a modern poultry processing factory in Bechem to serve as a ready market for producers. With this initiative, Ghana aims to reclaim its position as a major poultry producer and reduce its reliance on imports.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
