High cost of feed killing poultry industry – NGO

NGO, Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition has complained that the cost of feed is killing the poultry industry in Ghana.

The group’s Coordinator Ibrahim Alkabila told STARR BUSINESS’ Fred Dzakpata in an interview that the high cost involved in feeding farm birds is becoming a disincentive to farmers and has urged the Government to help the situation.

“One of the challenges that we face is, the cost of feed alone is such that it tends to drive away people who will want to go into that line of activity,” Alkabila stressed.

“In Ghana, compared to other countries, because of utility cost, if you do the computation, the cost of feed alone is hovering around 70 percent of the total cost…if we are able to for instance put in place measures that will bring down feed cost, we are going to be able to push poultry production up,” he bemoaned.

His call comes one the eve of the 30th edition of the national best farmers day awards ceremony scheduled for Friday December 5, 2014 at Wiawso in the Western region.

This year’s awards ceremony is being marked on the theme: “Eat what you Grow.”

Meanwhile the NGO has also urged the Government to commit funds to the agriculture sector to make it more lucrative and attractive to the youth.

The GDP contribution of the agriculture sector fell from 31.8 percent in 2009 to 22 percent in 2013.

Alkabila believes pushing more resources into the sector can help the situation.

“If we are able to push enough resources there, you’ll notice that it’s going to help us drive the economy forward and it’s also going to create more employment for the youth, instead of relying on other sectors, which are not very productive,” he told STARR BUSINESS.