The West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), spearheaded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has achieved a significant milestone with the first batch of broiler poultry reaching maturity and ready for processing.

This batch, under the FSRP Poultry Intensification Scheme, marks a pivotal step in bolstering Ghana’s poultry industry, ensuring food security, and promoting local production.

The initial batch of broilers, matured over seven weeks, has attained an average live weight of 2.9 to 3 kilograms. For fast-food markets, where demand is for dressed chickens between 1.1 and 1.3 kg, typically achieved between four to five weeks, the average live weight ranges from 1.7 to 2.0 kg. This flexibility in production allows the FSRP to cater to various market demands, ensuring fresh and hygienically processed chicken is available in malls, restaurants, and processing facilities across the country.

Launched in June under MOFA’s guidance, the FSRP Poultry Intensification Scheme has seen rigorous monitoring by a team from the Animal Production Directorate (APD), the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), and FSRP officials. Their visits to poultry farms and processing facilities in the Ashanti Region aimed to ensure compliance with industry standards, covering aspects such as feed quality, vaccinations, bio-security, weight requirements, and overall bird health.

Key facilities involved include: Rockland Farms: Producers of Akoko Tasty Chicken, utilizing semi-automated processing methods; Asamoah and Yamoah Farms: Producers of Gold Birds, employing fully automated processes; Darko Farms: Known for Darko Farms Chicken, also using fully automated methods; Boris B Farms: Producers of Boris B Chicken.

The FSRP Poultry Intensification Scheme is expanding its footprint, with rollouts in the Eastern Region (Fredna Farms), Central Region (Judahson Farms), and Greater Accra Region (Pap Farms). Further expansions are planned for the Bono and other regions next month, bringing more anchor farmers into the scheme.

Reviving and Sustaining Poultry Farms

Osei Owusu Agyeman, Project Coordinator of FSRP, expressed satisfaction with the private sector’s enthusiastic adoption of the project. He noted that the initiative is reviving previously collapsed poultry farms, strengthening the value chain, and leveraging opportunities within West African trade.

Dr. Abdul Razak Okine, Deputy Director of the Animal Production Directorate at MOFA, also highlighted the positive prospects, emphasizing the scheme’s potential to compete globally in terms of production and marketing weights.

A key highlight of the scheme is the active participation of youth and women, which is essential for the project’s sustainability. Continuous support is deemed crucial for maintaining and enhancing this participation, ensuring that the next generation is well-equipped and motivated to contribute to Ghana’s poultry industry.

The FSRP Poultry Intensification Scheme is implemented in phases, supported by World Bank funding. Each beneficiary receives input credit, including 160,000 day-old chicks, 4.5 kilograms of feed per bird, and necessary vaccines.

Additionally, farmers are trained in modern best practices and climate-smart technologies, with access to matching grants for post-production processing and cold storage equipment. The scheme aims to produce approximately two million broiler birds annually under a $12.5 million World Bank facility.

Supporting 18 commercial anchor farmers and their outgrowers nationwide, the scheme’s objective is to produce, process, and market two million birds each year over the next three years. This effort is part of the broader FSRP initiative promoted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes participating countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.

In Ghana, FSRP targets the intensified production, marketing, and consumption of wholesome rice, maize, broiler poultry, soybeans, and tomatoes. This diverse focus ensures a robust and resilient food system, capable of withstanding various challenges and contributing to the nation’s food security.

The first batch of broiler poultry under the FSRP marks a significant achievement in Ghana’s efforts to enhance its food system resilience. With the continued support of MOFA, the private sector, and international partners, the FSRP Poultry Intensification Scheme is poised to transform the local poultry industry, ensuring sustainable growth and improved food security for the nation.