High cost of maize threatening poultry farming in Dormaa

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), June 29, GNA - There is the need to check high

price of maize in the Dormaa area, arguably the hub of poultry farming in the

country. A maxi bag of maize cost between GHC 80 and GHC 90 which might future

increase depending on the forces of demand and supply. Nana Kwabena Asamoah Asare, Chairman of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers

Association, who disclosed these in an interview with GNA at Dormaa-Ahenkro,

indicated that the situation could compel some poultry farmers in Dormaa to

close down their farms. He said the high price of the produce was partially due to the absence of silos

for storage during the major harvest season for sale to farmers during the lean

season. Nana Asare said the association had requested the Municipal Assembly and

the Municipal Office of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure the

provision of silos for storage of maize. He said that poultry farmers were worried about the high price of the produce

and the lack of ready market for birds, which had resulted in middlemen buying

them at cheap price. Mr. Adama Musa, 2006 National Best Poultry Farmer, urged members of the

association to pool their resources and acquire temporary storage facility while

the authorities considered their request for the building of the facility. Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah, Municipal Chief Executive of the area,

promised that more consultative meetings would be held to address challenges

facing the farmers. He said that the poultry industry should not be left to collapse because it was

providing jobs for the people, particularly the youth. Mr Asamoah said " Government is committed to hedging small and

medium-scale enterprises against factors and tendencies that have the potential to

collapse them". He advised all poultry farmers in the area to join the association to avoid

being left out in data collection and assistance.