There is a shortfall of 335 metric tonnes of poultry meat production in the country, because the country currently produces just 15 metric tonnes of the 350 metric tonnes of meat needed annually.
The Chairman of the Central Regional Poultry Farmers Association, Dr Eric Asamoah-Darko, who made this known at a workshop for poultry farmers at Agona Swedru last Monday, said as a result of the shortfall, “Ghana is over relying on imported chicken."
In the early 1980s, he said the Central Region was the hub of poultry industry in the country and that the Pomadze Poultry Farm which is close to Winneba, used to produce enough meat and eggs not only for Ghanaian consumption but for export as well.
Central Region, he said, used to have over 3,800 poultry farmers but a lot of them had left the industry, leaving only 1,260 who were left at the mercy of the challenges in the sector.
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Dr Asamoah-Darko said the poultry industry in the Central Region had employed over 10,000 direct work force and that aside from the industry contributing to youth employment, it also resulted in meat and eggs production as well, which improved the livelihood of families and Ghanaian economy in general.
"Notwithstanding the benefits derived from the industry, there are some challenges for which we requested government intervention," he said, and mentioned them to include high cost of feed and high cost of utilities.
Policy
Moreover, Dr Asamoah-Darko said, there was no government policy direction for poultry industry in the country and that unlike crop farmers, the government was not supporting poultry farmers.
For example, he said the planting for food and jobs did not capture poultry farmers in the Central Region.
Again, he said there was a lack of access to capital.
"We wish to appeal to government to support the poultry industry in Ghana in terms of capital and acquisition of land.”
"Youth should be encouraged to go into the poultry business. All senior secondary schools should be encouraged and supported to have poultry in the various schools," he said.
Support
Dr Asamoah-Darko said more veterinary officers should be recruited to support poultry farmers and that veterinary clinics should be set up in all districts to ensure proper care of the animals.
He said regular education and training should be organised for farmers.
The Central Regional Director of Agriculture, Dr Peter Omega, underscored the need for more veterinary staff and extension officers for the Central Region.
He said the region had a farmer population of 696,600 but with a staff population of only 434 extension officers.
He disclosed that the region had over 1,200 poultry farms but had only one veterinary officer in every district.
Dr Omega, therefore, appealed to the government to employ more veterinary and extension officers to increase productivity.
