Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to expand domestic poultry production and aquaculture as part of efforts to reduce food imports and improve food security under the government’s New Economy programme.
Presenting the 2027 Budget in Parliament, he outlined interventions to develop poultry production, local feed manufacturing and fish farming.
The poultry strategy will cover breeder farms, hatcheries, day-old chicks, feed production, vaccines, processing plants, cold storage and distribution. Commercial anchor farms will also work with small and medium-sized producers through organised outgrower arrangements.
A major focus is reducing feed costs, which account for between 60% and 70% of poultry production expenses.
Government plans to establish commercial maize and soya bean production clusters to supply feed manufacturers through structured purchasing contracts.
“Feed accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the poultry production costs. The future of poultry therefore depends on the future of maize and soya bean which are the main ingredients for poultry feed,” Dr Forson said.
Aquaculture To Address Fish Supply Gap
Government is also targeting Ghana’s estimated fish supply deficit of 500,000 metric tonnes through expanded aquaculture and the restoration of marine and inland fisheries.
The intervention will support commercial and smallholder fish farmers with fingerlings, feed, cages, ponds, tanks, aquatic health laboratories and disease surveillance systems.
Government will also develop cold-chain facilities, modern fish villages and landing sites while strengthening fisheries licensing and enforcement against illegal fishing.
“We will increase fish supply without destroying the resources on which future supply depends on,” Dr Forson said.
The poultry and fisheries interventions form part of a US$3 billion commercial agriculture investment under the government’s US$10 billion New Economy programme for 2027 to 2030.
Other targeted value chains include rice, sugar, oil palm, vegetables and cocoa processing.
Dr Forson said the programme would connect agricultural production to processing, storage, transportation and markets to prevent losses and improve commercial returns.
“Production without storage creates gaps and losses. Processing without reliable supply creates idle factories. Credit without market leaves farmers in debt,” he said.
