Ghana’s ambitious quest to cut down on meat imports and boost local production has found a strong ally in Kuipers Breeders Hatchery, a facility that is rapidly reshaping the poultry value chain with world-class technology and high-performance chicks.
Located in Amuyawkope, Sege, in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region, the hatchery marks its second year of operations this May, after successfully hatching its first batch of chicks in 2023. The facility spans 200 acres and is equipped with cutting-edge incubation technology, automated environmental controls, and advanced biosecurity systems. These elements together ensure the delivery of healthy, high-quality day-old chicks to farms across the country.
A sister company to De Heus, known in Ghana as Koudijs Animal Nutrition, Kuipers Breeders Hatchery is part of a strategic effort to reduce Ghana’s heavy reliance on poultry imports. Ghana’s livestock sector contributes 14 percent of agricultural GDP and remains a major income source for rural farmers. However, the country imports over 240,000 metric tonnes of meat annually—including chicken and beef—costing over USD 375 million.
The demand for poultry meat alone is estimated at 400,000 metric tonnes, but current local production meets only about 57,871 metric tonnes. This leaves a shortfall of over 180,000 metric tonnes, with imported broiler meat constituting more than 80 percent of total meat imports.
In response, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has identified broiler production as the fastest way to bridge this deficit and boost rural employment. That is where Kuipers Hatchery is making a visible impact. In its first year, the hatchery produced 2.1 million chicks. By 2024, output had more than doubled to over 5.1 million chicks, a sign of both growing trust in local supply and increasing market demand.
“This hatchery allows us to apply international European and Dutch standards in chicken rearing and production, right here in Ghana. This way, every stakeholder—from the farmer to the consumer—gets maximum value,” said Moses Yaw Maidoo, General Manager of Kuipers Breeders Hatchery.
By embedding sustainability into its operations and reducing the need for continuous importation of day-old chicks, Kuipers is setting new benchmarks for Ghana’s poultry sector. The hatchery also offers technical support and efficient delivery systems that improve farm productivity and national food security.
“Our advanced facilities are a testament to our commitment to delivering only the best quality products and services,” added Jurjen Kuipers, CEO. “We are proud to be part of Ghana’s agricultural transformation and excited about the future we’re building together.”
As Ghana looks to strengthen domestic food systems, reduce its poultry import bill, and generate rural jobs, the rise of industrial-scale hatcheries like Kuipers is not just timely but transformational.
