Treat poultry farming as a business, not a food source – Eric Opoku

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has urged beneficiaries of the government's Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative to treat poultry farming as a commercial venture, advising them to sell most of the birds they rear instead of consuming them.

The initiative forms part of the government's broader strategy to increase domestic poultry production, promote the consumption of locally produced chicken, create jobs across the poultry value chain, and reduce the country's reliance on imported poultry products.

Speaking on Joy FM on Friday, July 17, 2026, Opoku said the success of the initiative depends on beneficiaries expanding their poultry businesses, increasing local production, and supplying the market rather than using the birds primarily for household consumption.

"You have been given the birds, and you are a human being, so you cannot leave them there and go to the market to buy chicken. Eat some, but don't consume everything. See it as a business and as seed that can help you expand your poultry enterprise," he said.

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The Minister stressed that while beneficiaries could keep some of the birds for household consumption, the broader objective of the programme is to build sustainable poultry businesses that generate income and support Ghana's efforts to reduce dependence on imported chicken.

"In any case, what are birds raised for? Are they clocks to be fixed on the wall for people to look at?" he asked.

According to Opoku, the government is not only focused on increasing poultry production but also on strengthening the entire poultry value chain through processing, marketing, and value addition to ensure farmers have profitable outlets for their produce.

He identified access to reliable markets as one of the biggest challenges facing poultry farmers, noting that expanding production alone would not guarantee the sector's growth unless farmers could sell their birds at competitive prices.

To address this challenge, the Minister disclosed that the government has begun establishing the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Processing Centre at Bechem following the launch of the backyard poultry project.

He explained that the processing facility would serve as a ready market for poultry farmers while supporting value addition, improving efficiency in the poultry supply chain, and enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced chicken.

ANAS/MA

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