The European Union (EU), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has donated 150,000 birds to support the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, which aims to expand backyard poultry production and improve livelihoods in northern Ghana.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, disclosed this while responding to questions in Parliament on the implementation of the programme.
According to the Minister, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative has become one of the flagship interventions under the government’s drive to revive Ghana’s poultry industry and promote food security.
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He explained that the programme’s first component focuses on backyard poultry production, under which the government is distributing three million day-old chicks to nearly 60,000 households nationwide to stimulate interest in poultry farming.
Mr Opoku said beneficiaries are selected by local authorities in each constituency and are first trained in poultry management before receiving vaccinated birds and feed to improve survival rates.
“As of now, we have completed distribution in 11 regions and are currently extending the programme to the remaining five regions after successfully piloting the initiative in northern Ghana,” he told Parliament.
He revealed that following the success of the pilot phase, the European Union and FAO donated an additional 150,000 birds, which are being distributed across selected districts in northern Ghana where poverty levels remain high.
According to him, each beneficiary district will receive 25,000 birds, with distribution already underway.
The Minister acknowledged reports that some beneficiaries had slaughtered and consumed the birds instead of raising them for commercial production.
While describing the reports as unfortunate, he noted that increased consumption of locally produced poultry would still support domestic poultry production by encouraging Ghanaians to patronise locally produced chicken instead of imported products.
“We want beneficiaries to rear the birds, multiply them and build sustainable businesses, not consume all of them immediately,” he said.
Mr Opoku also announced that the government is moving into the third phase of the programme, which will involve the distribution of four million birds to existing poultry farmers to help them expand production.
He said the intervention is expected to increase domestic poultry output, create jobs and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products.
The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is considering a proposal to support Members of Parliament who are interested in venturing into commercial poultry farming as part of efforts to promote investment in the sector.
He urged Ghanaians to support locally produced poultry, stressing that it is of high quality and that increased patronage would strengthen local businesses and create employment opportunities.