Ghana poised to export poultry

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - Darko Farms Limited on Thursday exported 25,000 broiler fertilized eggs worth 10,000 dollars to Cameroon and said Ghana had reached a point where it could export poultry and poultry products to neighbouring countries and even Europe.

"We encourage our poultry farmers to expand their farms and we need Government support," Mr Kawku Darko, Managing Director of Darko Farms said at the Kotoka International Airport when the poultry product was flown out.

The consignment, which is the first of a 100,000 egg order from Cameroon, is the first export of poultry products from the Ghana since the bird flu scare hit a number of countries last year.

Mr Darko, who is also the Chairman of the Poultry Development Board, said though the bird flu scare adversely affected the poultry industry in the country, things had completely changed for the better. "We had to destroy some of our stocks because there was no market. I am excited that we are now in a new day."

He said apart from Cameroon, other countries such as Nigeria were arranging to import chicken and chicken products from Ghana. "This demonstrates the fact that we have a good reputation as not having the virus."

Mr Darko said considering that even developed countries were also affected by the situation, it was very important that Ghana carefully scrutinized poultry imports, no matter where they came from, in order to maintain the good reputation in the industry.

He said when the production of food crops, whose by-products were used in preparing chicken feed, such as maize, were enhanced it would result in the reduction in the price of poultry and poultry products. Mr Darko urged the Government to assist producers of such crops to ensure not only good harvests but also a booming poultry industry.