Government has commenced the establishment of two poultry and meat processing facilities as part of a broader drive to modernise the livestock industry and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products, the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has said.
Presenting updates during the 2026 Budget Statement, Dr. Forson said Government is simultaneously rehabilitating key livestock stations at Amrahia, Nkwanta, Ejura, Doba, Pong, Tamale, Babile, and Busa to help curb production losses and increase value addition across the livestock chain.
On animal health, he reported major progress toward national vaccine self-sufficiency. A total of 587,014 imported vaccine doses were procured toward a 1.7-million target, while local production reached 2.7 million doses, of which 2.15 million have been distributed nationwide.
To safeguard farm incomes, Government is targeting 40 million vaccinations, representing 70,000 livestock and 39.93 million poultry.
As of August 2025, 17.7 million vaccines, or 44 percent of the target, had been administered, covering 61,733 livestock and 17.64 million poultry.
Dr. Forson added that feed safety and access to livestock inputs had improved. By August, 24 feed samples were tested across nine mills toward a 50-sample goal, while 266 livestock input permits, representing 136,721 metric tonnes, were approved, surpassing the 200-permit target.
Under the Feed Ghana programme, distribution of inputs is now channelled through cooperatives. Following a nationwide mobilisation effort, 63,039 cooperatives and farmer-based organisations (FBOs), representing 661,687 farmers, have been registered on the Ministry’s digital portal to ensure transparent and timely access to inputs.
He also informed Parliament that Government had finalised agreements to equip Farm Service Centres with tractors, combine harvesters, planters, sprayers, and other machinery.
These one-stop facilities, he said, are expected to lower production costs, boost productivity, and improve farmer incomes.
To deepen mechanisation, 120 individuals and Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres (AMSECs) received equipment including 100 Cabrio compact tractors, 12 power tillers, 20 threshers and shellers, eight combine harvesters, three boom sprayers, two seed cleaners, eight rice mills, 150 motorised sprayers, two orchard sprayers, three seed drills, three pneumatic planters, four silo dryers, and four cassava processors.
On storage, the Minister said Government would complete 11 warehouses of 1,000-metric-ton capacity each, connect power to the facilities, and provide 750,000 pallets and 50 steel sheds across 50 warehouses to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise food prices.
Dr. Forson emphasised that irrigation development remains central to agricultural resilience. Through the Irrigation for Wealth Creation Initiative, a total of 3,520 hectares are being developed or rehabilitated in Weta, Ashaiman, Okyereko, New Longoro, Aveyime, Kpolu, Bontanga, Anum Valley and Dawhenya.
Under rain-fed agriculture, 14,505 hectares were cultivated for cereals and vegetables, with regional achievements of 80 percent in Volta, 54 percent in Eastern, 14 percent in Ashanti, 80 percent in Savannah, 80 percent in Central, and 100 percent in Upper West.
Large-scale irrigation under the Afram Plains Economic Enclave is also progressing, covering 3,220 hectares through sprinklers, pivots, and canals. Progress includes: Atonsu (59% of 600 ha), Ekye-Amanfrom (59% of 350 ha), Konadu (75% of 1,470 ha), Ahinasi-Pitiku (20% of 200 ha), Ataneata-Nkwantanang (20% of 200 ha), and NSS-Kumawu (20% of 200 ha).
Dr. Forson said Tamne Phase 3 was stabilising spillways, repairing flood damage and developing 700 hectares, with land works 70 percent complete. At Vea, rehabilitation of 850 hectares has begun, prioritising 322.76 hectares on the right bank with overall work at 40 percent.
The Centre Pivot Irrigation Project is set to develop 4,450 hectares across eight regions. Community entry and surveys have been completed, with Lonto, Sheri, Kafaba and Awate designated for Phase I.
In addition, 19 small earth dams and seven irrigable sites are under construction in the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern Regions.
Dr. Forson said completing these irrigation and mechanisation investments in 2026 would ensure year-round production, stabilise food prices, reduce imports, strengthen the balance of payments, and support exchange rate stability.
