Sunyani: Mr Augustus Annan, Managing Director of Enapa Farms at Yawhima near Sunyani in the Bono Region, has called on the Government to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of resources under its poultry intervention initiatives, particularly the 'Nkoko Nkitikiti' programme.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Annan emphasized that while such policies are commendable and have the potential to revive the poultry sector, their impact would only be realized if resources reach genuine farmers actively engaged in production. He expressed his initial happiness upon hearing about the programme, believing it would boost the poultry business. However, he noted that not all farmers, including himself, benefited from the scheme.
The Nkoko Nkitikiti programme is a government initiative aimed at supporting poultry farmers with birds and inputs to increase local production of eggs and poultry products, reduce imports, and create jobs. As of late last year, the government reported distributing 720,000 birds to 13,000 farmers across 12 districts. Mr Annan, who applied for the birds but was not successful, voiced concerns about the project's success if it fails to target the right beneficiaries.
He remarked that similar interventions in the past had not always met their intended goals due to poor targeting and urged for due diligence in the distribution process. Mr Annan criticized the misallocation of resources to people unfamiliar with poultry farming, who then sell the birds to established farmers, and called for the government to ensure support reaches the right hands.
Discussing the state of the poultry industry in Sunyani and its environs, Mr Annan described it as promising but hampered by high production costs and market fluctuations. His farm, with about 2,500 birds, produces 64 to 65 crates of eggs daily but had to scale down operations last year due to low patronage.
He explained that although the market situation has improved somewhat this year, poultry farmers continue to face challenges with rising feed costs, unpredictable weather, and disease outbreaks. Mr Annan highlighted the high cost of feed, with maize prices previously ranging between GHS700 and GHS900 per bag, and the increasing costs of other inputs like soya affecting operations.
Mr Annan also pointed out the lack of regular extension services, stressing the reliance on veterinary officers during disease outbreaks, which incurs additional costs for farmers. He urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support poultry farmers with veterinary services to mitigate potential disease outbreaks.
Despite these challenges, Mr Annan remains optimistic about the sector's viability and revealed plans to expand his farm to a new site to increase production and create employment opportunities. He called on financial institutions to support poultry farmers with accessible credit facilities, emphasizing collaboration among stakeholders to sustain the industry.
Additionally, Mr Annan encouraged young people to consider venturing into poultry farming, noting that despite being capital intensive, the sector offers rewarding opportunities if managed well. He advised against solely relying on government jobs, highlighting poultry farming as a viable business for those with passion and management skills.