'Average Ghanaian Eats an Egg a Month'

About 80% of Ghana's population consume 12 eggs per person in a year as compared to 154 eggs for each person per annum in other countries despite the high import of chicken products. Chicken meat consumption is also 1.2 kilograms for the average person in 12 months as against a world average of 9.7 kilograms in the same time span.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture Hon. Mike Akyeampong at the 25th symposium of the Ghana Animal Science Association (GASA) in Kumasi. Although the consumption is very poor, poultry product importation is very high with 1998 and 1999 recording 13,960 and 16,116 metric tones and domestic production accounting for only 225 of the demand.

The World Bank and IMF reforms introduced in the 1980's under the Structural Adjustment programme gave way to the lifting of import restrictions. This led to high importation of poultry products thus adversely affecting local production. Hon. Akyeampong noted that the series of seminars and workshops being held were to help revamp the industry.

A major problem that farmers encounter is the procurement of the needed inputs due to their high cost. Feeding of fowls is also a difficulty for the farmers coupled with the presence of the Newcastle disease which affects local fowls.

The veterinary service directorate is also working on a vaccine for the Newcastle disease which, it is believed, will reduce the high mortality of local birds. "This will lead to availability of more poultry meat and eggs at reasonable prices," the Minister said.