The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced that government is partnering with a private investor to establish a poultry processing centre aimed at creating a ready market for poultry farmers across the country.
According to the Minister, the initiative is designed to address challenges faced by beneficiaries of the government’s “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” programme, who are struggling to find buyers for their birds after production.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Opoku said some poultry farmers have already contacted the Ministry over difficulties in selling their matured birds.
“Now the Nkoko Nkitinkiti, some people are calling me that the poultry have grown and they want to sell but don’t get anywhere to sell it. That’s also a problem,” he said.
To address the challenge, the Minister disclosed that government and a private partner are jointly funding a poultry processing centre, which will also include a hatchery as part of an integrated poultry development strategy.
“The Government of Ghana together with a private person is funding a project for the poultry processing centre. We will add a hatchery alongside the centre. It’s an integrated approach,” he explained.
Mr. Opoku noted that poultry farmers will be registered under the programme and linked directly to the processing facility to ensure a guaranteed market for their produce.
“The farmers will be registered there. We want the poultry farmers around that enclave to work closely with them so the centre buys their birds and also helps people to produce,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that the establishment of the processing centre would encourage more people to venture into poultry farming by providing assurance of a reliable market.
“So long as there is a market for it, people will continue to produce,” the Minister added.
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