The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Animal Research Institute (CSIR-ARI), convened a validation workshop to review findings from a diagnostic study on poultry and rabbit production in the Adentan and Ga West Municipalities of Accra.
The workshop forms part of the FAO-funded project, “Strengthening Youth-Led Livestock Enterprises through Enhanced Capacity and Inputs Support in Ghana,” which seeks to empower young entrepreneurs in the livestock sector through evidence-based training and targeted support.
Implemented under the FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023–2025 and aligned with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, the initiative directly addresses Ghana’s pressing challenges of youth unemployment and low productivity in the livestock sector. While the pilot is currently being rolled out in the Greater Accra Region, the workshop focused on generating insights to inform curriculum development for wider application.
“This initiative is not just about livestock, it’s about decent livelihoods. By equipping young people with the right skills, knowledge, market access and financial support, we are building a more inclusive, resilient, and productive agri-food system,” said Caeser Vulley, Regional Youth Employment Specialist at the FAO Regional Office for Africa speaking on behalf of Priya Gujadhur the FAO Country Representative to Ghana add interim.
The project emphasizes sustainability, gender equality, and youth leadership. It aims to create scalable models that can be replicated nationally and regionally, contributing to FAO’s One Health approach to agrifood system transformation and FAO’s vision of the Four Betters – Better Production; Better Nutrition; a Better Environment; and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
Presenting the study results, Dr. Siegfried Affedzie-Obresi of CSIR-ARI highlighted that poultry and rabbit production are vital to enhancing national food and nutrition security, reducing meat imports, and creating jobs for youth. The diagnostic study involved surveys, focus group discussions, literature reviews on livestock policies, and assessments of veterinary and extension services to identify key gaps in production and marketing.
“This validation workshop is a crucial step in ensuring that the findings from the first phase of the project guide the development of a relevant, practical training curriculum that prepares young people to succeed in livestock enterprises,” said Dr Doris Osei, Deputy Director of CSIR-ARI.
CSIR-ARI continues to play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable livestock and poultry production in Ghana through research, advisory services, and capacity building in areas such as animal health, feed formulation, dairy production, and disease control. The institute also collaborates with private sector actors to extend its impact across the livestock value chain.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the University of Ghana, Directors of Agriculture, FAO experts in Ghana, CSIR-ARI team members, mentors, and young poultry and rabbit farmers, reflecting a shared commitment to transforming the future of livestock farming in Ghana through youth investments.
Source : FAO Ghana
