The European Union (EU) has donated 150,000 fully vaccinated poultry together with feed and essential veterinary medication to 3,000 farmers in six districts in the Savannah, Upper East and North East Regions. Each beneficiary farmer received 50 birds.
This intervention formed part of the EU-funded EU Food Security Response in Northern Ghana Project, which is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The intervention, which is in line with the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, targeted the country’s poultry sector to reduce import dependency, improve food and nutrition security, create jobs and enhance household income especially for rural communities.
Mr Eric Opoku, Minister for Food and Agriculture, speaking during the distribution of the birds to beneficiary farmers at Gbung in the North East Gonja District, said the intervention formed part of efforts under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme to strengthen the poultry sub-sector and reduce the country’s dependence on imported chickens.
Mr Opoku said the intervention would help increase local production, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of beneficiary farmers.
He said each selected farmer received 50 birds, which had been raised for about 14 weeks, fully vaccinated and ready for production, adding the birds were layers, expected to start producing eggs within a month.
He urged beneficiaries to treat the support as an investment and make good use of it to improve their economic conditions.
Mr Opoku touched on the Feed Ghana Programme and said one year after its implementation, farmers had recorded increased production with maize and other grains widely available across the country.
He said the increased supply had led to a significant drop in maize prices falling from about GHc1,600 to as low as GHc250.
Ms Silvia Severi, EU Head of Cooperation said the intervention went beyond poultry distribution to creating jobs, improving nutrition and strengthening Ghana’s food sovereignty.
She said the EU was working with government and partners to reduce dependence on imported poultry, improve farmers’ incomes and support job creation across the agricultural value chain.
She said the farmers also benefited from training in improved agricultural practices, seed production, savings and loans and post-harvest management.
Ms Priya Gujadhur, FAO Country Representative, expressed appreciation to the EU for the support and commended the collaboration with MoFA, regional and district agricultural departments, farmer organisations and implementing partners.
She advised beneficiary farmers to make the best use of the opportunity by taking proper care of the birds and adhering to recommended husbandry practices including proper housing, feeding and biosecurity measures.
She urged district departments of agriculture to intensify supervision and provide continuous technical support to sustain the gains made under the project.
Madam Bawa Damata, a person with disability, who was a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the partners for the support and said it would enable her to engage more actively in farming and improve her household food supply.
She said training in agronomic practices, village savings and loans association, and animal husbandry had enhanced her skills in farming and small business management.
The EU team visited five beneficiaries at Gbung where they inspected poultry facilities under the intervention and interacted with farmers supported under the project.
The team observed the condition of the birds and structures provided while extension officers demonstrated proper feeding, housing and biosecurity practices to ensure the health and productivity of the poultry.
Source : GNA
