The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) has sounded the alarm over the stagnant growth of the domestic poultry industry, attributing it to insufficient investment throughout the value chain.

Both government and private sector players have been cited for their lack of commitment to investing in critical components such as hatcheries, feed mills, processors, and cold chain facilities, according to GNAPF.

The severity of the situation is highlighted by the fact that Ghana’s poultry demand, estimated at over 460,000 metric tonnes annually by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), far exceeds the country’s domestic production capacity.

Shockingly, local hatcheries contribute a mere five percent to meet this demand, with the remaining 95 percent fulfilled through imports. This heavy reliance on imports not only undermines the country’s food security but also exacerbates its trade deficit.

GNAPF President, Mr. Victor Oppong Adjei, expressed deep concern over the underutilization of feed mills, which operate at a paltry 12 percent capacity despite the growing demand for poultry feed.

Additionally, he highlighted the lack of adequate poultry abattoirs, with only one commercial facility slaughtering 9,000 birds per day. However, Mr. Adjei remains optimistic that increased investment could catalyze the establishment of additional abattoirs to meet the surging demand for poultry products.

Despite the myriad challenges facing the poultry sector, Mr. Oppong emphasized the untapped opportunities available to potential investors. For instance, broiler production currently meets a meager 15 percent of domestic demand, indicating substantial room for expansion and profitability in this segment.

The Historical Preference for Layer Production

Moreover, while acknowledging the historical preference for layer production due to the high demand for eggs, he underscored the need for diversification and expansion into other poultry products to meet evolving consumer preferences and market demands.

Although the government introduced the Rearing for Food and Jobs programme in 2017 to stimulate local livestock production, particularly in the poultry sector, its impact has been limited thus far.

The program, aimed at promoting self-sufficiency in food production and reducing reliance on imports, has yet to yield significant results. GNAPF advocates for a more comprehensive and sustained effort from policymakers to address the structural challenges hindering the growth of the poultry industry.

This initiative was to increase broiler production and stop reliance on poultry importation. The programme looks to help support investors in the poultry value chain to produce over 162 million broilers and over 350 million guinea fowls within a space of five years to stem imports.

However, serious bottlenecks exist in the realisation of this dream. Among the key problems include high cost of feed – maize and soya beans- and utilities. Poultry sector stakeholders have consistently maintained that local production is suffering because of cheaper imports.

Notwithstanding these challenges, GNAPF reiterated that great investment prospects exist in the value chain, including setting up of large-scale farms; slaughtering and meat processing facilities, haulage and cold storage facilities; and establishment of new hatcheries, feed mills and breeder farms.

Meanwhile, the stagnation of Ghana’s poultry sector due to inadequate investment in critical infrastructure and facilities poses a significant threat to the country’s food security and economic development.

Urgent action is needed from both government and private sector stakeholders to unlock the sector’s immense potential, stimulate domestic production, create employment opportunities, and reduce import dependency. By prioritizing investment in hatcheries, feed mills, processing facilities, and cold chain infrastructure, Ghana can revitalize its poultry industry and harness the benefits of a vibrant and sustainable agricultural sector.