Importation of chicken killing us - Poultry farmers

The Chairman of National Association of Poultry Farmers, Victor Oppong Agyei has bemoaned continued importation of foreign chicken into the country up to 95% whiles members of the association only produce 5%.

This, he noted is having a toll on the industry locally, despite its huge potentials of creating several thousands of job.

‘Poultry started very well in the 70s but as I speak now it’s gone down drastically, now I can say that production for broiler is about 5%, 95% is imported , imagine a country depending on importation.

You know that is going to affect the economy and industry, the poultry is not doing well. It continues to go down,’ he said.

He cautioned that they might be laying off some of their workers if the country continues to import poultry.

‘You know the poultry is employing lots of people and if it’s not there it means we have to sack all of them.

It’s going to create unemployment in the country. So I will tell you that poultry is going down, and it’s very drastic , it’s very bad, the rate is very bad, and it’s about time that we do something about it,’ he stated.

He called on government and industry players to put in measures to ensure that the poultry industry is revived.

‘It’s about time that we do something about it. We need a policy drive to push the industry, otherwise the industry will go down and it’s going to affect anything including the economy,’ he suggested.