The Western Regional Poultry Farmers Association has called on government to ensure that its new poultry distribution initiative, popularly known as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, is managed by trained poultry farmers rather than inexperienced individuals or groups.
Under the programme, government plans to supply 10,000 broilers to every constituency at an estimated cost of GH¢200 million, major investment intended to boost domestic poultry production and reduce the country’s reliance on imported chicken.
But according to the Association, distributing the birds to people without technical knowledge in poultry rearing could jeopardize the entire project.
“Broilers require specialized care-proper feeding, housing, vaccination, and stress management,” said Mr. Emmanuel Benya, Regional Chairman of the Association, during a press conference in Takoradi. “Without adequate training, the mortality rate will be high, leading to massive economic losses for the state.”
He commended the government for its bold vision but warned that poor implementation could undermine the initiative’s objectives.
“This policy has the potential to transform Ghana’s agriculture, promote food security, and strengthen the cedi, but only if execution is well-coordinated,” he added.
Mr. Benya highlighted common challenges facing the poultry sector, including bird mortality, disease outbreaks, and market disruptions.
He recommended that government consider distributing cockerels or Sasso birds instead of broilers, citing their resilience, adaptability to Ghana’s climate, and lower maintenance requirements.
“We strongly recommend cockerels or Sasso breeds, they’re hardier, need less intensive care, and are in high market demand,” he stressed.
The Association also proposed a more decentralized distribution model. Instead of assigning all 10,000 birds to a single farmer or group, Mr. Benya suggested that the birds be divided among verified poultry farmers. This, he said, would minimize losses during transportation and the initial rearing phase.
Raising poultry, he emphasized, “is not a task for the faint-hearted,” underscoring the need for the involvement of experienced farmers and continuous technical supervision to ensure success.
To safeguard the project’s long-term impact, the group urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to adopt comprehensive biosecurity protocols, farmer training programmes, government-supported veterinary services, and a monitoring framework developed in partnership with existing farmer associations.
Some farmers also appealed to the government to depoliticize the programme, warning that partisan influence could derail an otherwise promising intervention.
Mr. Benya called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and its allied agencies to engage industry experts and provide accurate data and technical guidance to make the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative a sustainable success for Ghana’s poultry sector.
