Ghana's Bold 'Nkoko Nkitinkiti' Poultry Programme Grapples with Feed Crisis

Ghana's poultry industry faces a significant challenge, with an estimated 87% of its annual chicken consumption (452,100 tonnes) being imported, despite only producing around 60,000 tonnes domestically. This stark reality underscores the urgency of initiatives like the government's Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme, designed to bridge this gap and foster national food security. The program, discussed at a JoyNews Business Roundtable themed "Can Ghana Feed Itself? The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nkitinkiti," aims to raise 226 million birds annually, a seven-and-a-half-fold increase from the current 30 million, or less than one bird per Ghanaian raised locally today.

Bright Demordzi, National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, highlighted Nkoko Nkitinkiti as a strategic import substitution initiative. Its core objectives are to boost local poultry production, generate employment, and lessen Ghana's reliance on imported chicken. The programme seeks to revitalize backyard poultry farming, which historically sustained the nation but has seen a drastic decline, while also supporting small, medium, and large-scale producers. Demordzi reported significant progress, with approximately 2.5 million birds distributed to backyard poultry farmers and vulnerable groups across 11 regions. For instance, 10,000 birds were distributed in each of eight regions, benefiting about 4,000 families through dedicated support interventions. This aims to reignite interest in poultry farming and increase domestic output, thereby conserving foreign exchange.

Despite the commendable goals, Dr. Kwao Pecku of the Veterinary Medical Association stressed that the success of Nkoko Nkitinkiti hinges on effective implementation and robust stakeholder collaboration. He noted that many previous government policies, however well-conceived, faltered due to weak animal health management systems, leading to disease outbreaks. A critical shortcoming, according to Dr. Pecku, has been the exclusion of vital stakeholders, particularly veterinary professionals, from district and community-level implementation. Logistical constraints, including inadequate staffing and equipment for monitoring, further impede the programme's effectiveness. He emphasized that ensuring the success of poultry policies is a collective responsibility extending beyond the Veterinary Services Directorate.

Edith Akosah Wheatland, CEO of Rockland Farms, strongly advocated for a long-term, legally backed roadmap spanning 10 to 20 years to guide the transformation of Ghana's poultry industry. She argued that short-term interventions are insufficient to achieve meaningful and sustained change, and such a roadmap would transcend political administrations, ensuring continuity.

Ms. Wheatland highlighted that feed constitutes about 80% of the cost of raising broiler chickens. Rockland Farms addressed this by investing in its own feed mill, capable of producing 8-10 tonnes per hour. This strategy not only reduced their production costs but also created opportunities for nearly 8,000 smallholder maize farmers, whom Rockland Farms supports with technical expertise to improve yields. She also underscored the importance of capacity building, drawing from her own experience, stressing that continuous learning, careful planning, and investment are crucial for success in poultry farming.

Access to finance remains a significant hurdle, as commercial banks are often reluctant to lend to the poultry sector due to perceived risks. Ms. Wheatland believes a clear, legally backed national policy would instill confidence in financial institutions, encouraging greater investment. Furthermore, she pointed out deficiencies in processing infrastructure and the cold chain, which limit the industry's competitiveness despite strong local market demand. Rockland Farms is tackling this by developing a poultry processing plant in the Ashanti Region, aiming for a capacity of 2,000 birds per hour. With a proposed 24-hour economy, this could escalate to processing about 40,000 birds daily, creating substantial employment. The new facility will also maximize value by converting by-products like feathers, blood, and intestines into commercial products, further reducing costs.

To bolster the domestic market, Ms. Wheatland called for robust public education campaigns to encourage consumers to prioritize locally produced chicken. She cited market research indicating consumer willingness to pay more for local products, provided they are available and of high quality. Crucially, she urged the government to implement a legally binding public procurement policy, mandating state institutions, including senior high schools and prisons, to purchase locally produced poultry.

Ultimately, the transformation of Ghana's poultry industry, and the success of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti program, requires a harmonized effort across government agencies, veterinary services, financial institutions, farmers, and consumers. As Dr. Pecku and Ms. Wheatland both emphasized, effective collaboration, long-term strategic planning, investment in infrastructure and capacity, and supportive policies are essential if Ghana is to truly feed itself and secure a prosperous future for its poultry sector.