Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr George Kpakpo Allotey, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ablekuma West Municipality, has appealed to the youth to embrace the government’s poultry programme known as “nkoko nkitenkete,” for a sustainable livelihood.
He said agriculture remained a viable option for sustainable livelihood in view of government’s many interventions and policy innovation in various aspects of agriculture.
He said as part of the poultry programme, about 5,000 birds were being distributed nationwide.
Mr Allotey made the appeal in an interview with the media during the celebration of 41st Farmer’s Day at the Karikari Park at Dansoman.
He said about 150 households in the Ablekuma West Municipality would be registered on the programme while about 66 poultry farmers had been registered to benefit from training, support and extension services.
The MCE said two Poultry Farmers Association have been formed to strengthen collaboration, improve knowledge sharing and support market access.
He said Agriculture continued to receive unprecedented support through the flagship Feed Ghana Programme.
Mr Allotey said the intervention was designed to modernise agriculture, increase productivity and food security and strengthen value chain across crops, livestock and agro-processing, key among which included the “nkoko nkitenkite” programme.
He indicated that, given the urban and coastal context of the area, land was limited, but despite the challenges, farmers in the area continued to show innovation, resilience, and genuine commitment towards feeding the communities.
He said this year’s theme for the Farmers Day celebration was a collective call on farmers, citizens, local authorities, private sector players and government to work together to grow and secure our future.
Madam Patience Seade, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, said the department remained committed to guiding farmers in the area with timely extension support, improved agronomic practices and innovations that boost productivity while protecting the environment.
Mr Henry Lamptey, a 45-year-old farmer who received the Municipal Best Farmer award, has been in the livestock business for 10 years and grows poultry, ducks, grasscutter, goat and cow.
He urged the youth to discard the notion that there were no jobs and rather venture into agriculture to earn some livelihood.
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