Africa-Press – Ghana. Patrons of the Fifth Edition of the Annual Ghana Poultry Festival in Accra have called for strategic investments in the poultry sector to increase local production and reduce importation.
While commending government’s efforts to revamp the poultry sector under the Feed Ghana Programme, they appealed for investment in the local production of feed to reduce the cost of production.
The event, organised by the Agrihouse Foundation at the forecourt of the State House on Tuesday, was on the theme: “Investing in the local poultry sector, a means to creating jobs, promoting Agri-tourism and improving food security – our collective responsibility.”
Key activities that marked the festival included panel discussion with industry players, cooking competition, food sampling, poultry farmers’ round table discussion, public education, exhibitions and fun games.
The Agrihouse Foundation also distributed 5,000 day-old-chicks to the participants to rally Ghanaians to support local poultry production, encourage patronage and consumption of locally produced chicken.
Mr John Dumelo, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, who opened the festival, said the initiative aligned with the Government’s policy direction to transform the poultry sector.
The promotion of consumption of locally produced chicken should be a national agenda, he said, and urged the citizenry to patronise locally produced chicken to support the growth of the sector.
Mr Dumelo tasked the organsiers of the Festival to hold the event at least twice a year to raise awareness and rally support to grow Ghana’s poultry sector.
It is estimated that Ghana imports nearly $400 million worth of chicken every year, with local producers accounting for just five per cent local demand for chicken.
Mr Bright Kwadzo Demordzi, the National Coordinator, School Feeding Programme, said the Government would, this year, support 50 large scale poultry farmers and 500 small to medium scale ones under the Feed Ghana Programme.
He said the “Nkuko Nkitinkiti Progamme”, which would supply day-old-chicks to interested Ghanaians, sought to ignite interest in local production of poultry especially within households.
“It will be shared for people who have interest, space, and the right environment where the chicks can live safely,” Mr Demordzi said.
“We believe that after the sharing, these people will venture into small scale poultry production.”
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, said farmers deserved to be celebrated for their efforts to feed the nation and encourage the Government to explore opportunities to produce local feed for poultry farmers.
That would help to reduce foreign reliance and build a sustainable industry, she said.
Ms Albertha Nana Akyia Akosa, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, said the Festival was initiated to promote the consumption and patronage of locally produced poultry to reduce imports and create jobs.
The programme sought to identify the gaps in the sector and create platforms to bring stakeholders together to address issues undermining its growth.
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