The Western Region Poultry Farmers Association has thrown its support behind the Nkonkonkitinkiti Initiative, describing it as an important intervention that could strengthen the poultry industry, improve farmers’ livelihoods and create employment opportunities across the value chain. This was made known to the press in an interview with the Association’s Regional Chairman, Emmanuel Brenya, who called on the government to back the initiative with practical measures.
According to Mr. Brenya, the initiative had already provided opportunities for some poultry farmers by engaging them as service providers. He explained that some beneficiaries initially lacked adequate technical education, but after meeting with them and identifying their challenges, the Association provided them with tuition and guidance to help address the difficulties they encountered.
The farmers expressed hope that subsequent phases of the initiative would capture more poultry producers, particularly those who have not yet benefited. They said expanding the programme would enable more farmers to improve their production capacity and contribute meaningfully to the development of the local poultry industry.
Mr. Brenya raised concern over Ghana’s low level of broiler production, noting that local farmers currently produce only about two per cent of the country’s broiler requirements. He therefore called for the establishment of processing plants to support large-scale production and provide farmers with reliable outlets for their birds.
According to him, increasing local poultry production would have a multiplier effect on the economy by creating jobs across the value chain. He explained that maize sellers, feed producers, transport operators, processors, marketers and other businesses would benefit from an expanded poultry industry, while more young people could gain employment.
Mr. Brenya disclosed that the Association had engaged officials of the Feed Ghana Programme, who assured the farmers that the government remained committed to supporting the poultry sector and addressing the challenges confronting producers. He said the farmers welcomed the assurance and expected the commitment to translate into concrete interventions.
However, the Association said the government was yet to fulfil the portion of its manifesto promise concerning the promotion of medium- and large-scale poultry production. Mr. Brenya therefore urged the government to honour the commitment by providing the necessary financing, technical support, infrastructure and other incentives required to expand production.
He further argued that if Ghana could significantly increase its poultry production, the country could gradually reduce its dependence on imported frozen chicken. According to him, sustained production, combined with round-table discussions between farmers and the Feed Ghana Programme, could help develop practical solutions to the challenges posed by imported poultry products.
The Association also called for improved access to affordable inputs, financing, technical education, processing facilities and reliable markets for poultry farmers. It stressed that continuous engagement between government and farmers would be critical to ensuring that the Nkonkonkitinkiti Initiative delivers measurable benefits rather than remaining merely a policy announcement.
The Western Region Poultry Farmers Association consequently reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with government and other stakeholders to develop the poultry sector. Mr. Brenya urged the authorities to fulfil their campaign promises, expand the initiative to cover more farmers and provide processing infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale production, saying such measures would create jobs, strengthen food4 security and help build a competitive local poultry industry.
