Programme to improve livestock production launched

A livestock development strategy and policy (DSP) programme aimed at developing, modernising and ensuring efficient livestock production has been launched at Sogakope in the Volta Region.

The programme is expected to help meet the increasing demand for livestock products, by increasing production from 2.4 per cent to 5.6 per cent.

It was launched by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as part of activities to increase livestock production.

Poultry importation

Speaking at a workshop to launch the programme, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Hanna Bissiw, indicated that the initiative followed an economic policy formulated by the government which was aimed at reducing the importation of poultry products by 40 per cent by the end of 2016.

The economic policy initiative (EPI) dubbed: “Enhancing Domestic Production to Reduce Imports” forms part of the 2015 budget and is part of efforts to revamp the livestock industry.

She said the programme would also improve the consumption of local poultry products and thereby increase the income of farmers and enhance their standard of living.

Besides, consumers would also be provided with high quality and reasonably priced poultry products.

As part of efforts to control the crisis facing the livestock sector, Dr Bissiw hinted that some restrictions would be placed on the importation of poultry. 

Challenges

“Currently, Ghana’s livestock industry is facing challenges such as low public sector investment relating to annual budgetary allocations,” Dr Bissiw said.

At the individual level, she advised livestock farmers to engage the services of veterinary officers to improve their livestock and to ensure safety for consumers.

Be innovative

In a speech read on his behalf, the FAO Country Representative in Ghana, Dr Larmoudia Thiombiano, acknowledged Ghana’s keen interest in accelerating the development of the livestock sector.

He said it was essential for the sector to grow by six per cent annually, from the current rate of 2.4 per cent, to meet the projected demand for livestock products.