Accra: Ghana's efforts to reduce the country's dependence on imported livestock and poultry products and increase local production deserve commendation. However, if Ghana truly wants to achieve food security, create jobs, reduce its import bill and eventually become an exporter of livestock products, the country needs a deliberate, comprehensive and long-term approach that goes beyond the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative.
According to Ghana Web, the government's Nkoko Nketenkete policy has created an opportunity for many Ghanaians to participate in poultry farming. Despite the challenges associated with its implementation, the initiative has the potential to contribute to increased domestic poultry and egg production. The government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, therefore deserves recognition for introducing the initiative. However, like every public policy, there is room for improvement.
One important consideration should be to make Nkoko Nketenkete a genuinely national agricultural intervention rather than one that could be perceived through the lens of partisan politics. Access to the programme should be based on clear, transparent and measurable criteria. A Ghanaian who is genuinely interested in poultry farming, whether young or old, politically affiliated or not, should be able to apply. The Ministry should assess the applicant's preparedness, capacity and commitment and, where the requirements are met, provide the appropriate support.
Beyond Nkoko Nketenkete, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should consider establishing well-equipped state demonstration poultry and livestock farms in strategic parts of the country. These facilities could serve as practical learning centres for existing farmers, prospective farmers, agricultural students and young people interested in entering the livestock sector. Such farms could demonstrate modern poultry production, cattle breeding, dairy production, piggery, animal nutrition, disease prevention, farm management, processing and marketing.
Ghana has thousands of young people graduating from universities and other institutions every year. Many have qualifications in agriculture and related disciplines but struggle to find formal employment. Rather than expecting all of them to find employment in the public sector, government can create opportunities for them to become agricultural entrepreneurs. Young graduates could form cooperatives or registered groups and, with appropriate government support, gain access to land, birds, livestock, equipment, technical assistance, financing and markets.
The need for Ghana to broaden its livestock strategy was strengthened by an experience in the United States. As part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) under the theme 'AI and Technology in the Media Landscape,' the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Fair is not simply an entertainment event. It is an important platform for celebrating agriculture, livestock, farming, education, entrepreneurship and the state's agricultural heritage.
Ghana can consider strengthening its own agricultural fairs and livestock exhibitions. Such events should not merely be ceremonial occasions. They could provide platforms where farmers compete, learn, display their livestock, meet buyers, access technology, interact with financial institutions and showcase locally produced agricultural products. Imagine an annual national livestock exhibition where Ghanaian farmers can display their best cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry.
During the visit to Wisconsin, livestock breeds demonstrated the level of investment that has gone into animal breeding, nutrition, management and agricultural technology. The lesson for Ghana should not be that foreign breeds are brought into the country expecting them to perform in the same way. Rather, Ghana should invest in research and carefully evaluate which breeds and genetic technologies can perform successfully under Ghanaian environmental and management conditions.
Ghana should explore opportunities for institutional partnerships with agricultural authorities, universities, research institutions, farmer organisations and private-sector players in Wisconsin and other parts of the United States. Such partnerships could focus on improved livestock genetics and breeding, artificial insemination and reproductive technologies, dairy production, animal nutrition and feed formulation, veterinary services, livestock disease management, farm mechanisation, agricultural technology, farmer education and extension, livestock processing and value addition, and agricultural exhibitions and farmer competitions.
Ghana prides itself on agriculture as a major pillar of the economy. But if large quantities of poultry, meat and other livestock products continue to be imported, it indicates a significant gap between agricultural potential and actual production capacity. The answer is not only Nkoko Nketenkete. A comprehensive livestock development strategy bringing together government, farmers, universities, research institutions, financial institutions, the private sector and international partners is needed. The time to act is now.
As a journalist with 15 years of experience, and now as someone who has personally benefited from the Nkoko Nketenkete intervention, I believe beneficiaries should not only express gratitude but also contribute ideas that can help improve public policy. My experience at the Wisconsin State Fair has reinforced my belief that agriculture can be much more than subsistence farming. It can be an industry. It can create jobs. It can support tourism. It can generate foreign exchange. It can attract young people. It can stimulate manufacturing. It can support scientific research. And it can reduce Ghana's dependence on imported food.
Therefore, the appeal to the Government of Ghana is simple. Do not abandon Nkoko Nketenkete. Improve it, make it fairer, depoliticise access to it, resource genuine farmers and integrate it into a much broader national livestock development strategy. Let us move from simply distributing birds to building sustainable poultry businesses. Let us move from individual farmers to organised agricultural cooperatives. Let us move from importing livestock products to producing more of what we consume. And eventually, let us move from being an importer to becoming an exporter of quality Ghanaian livestock products. Ghana can do it. But it will require political commitment, continuity across successive governments, investment in research and technology, strong partnerships and, most importantly, a deliberate decision to make the Ghanaian farmer the centre of our agricultural transformation. Nkoko Nketenkete can be the beginning but it must not be the end. Ghana's livestock transformation must go beyond Nkoko Nketenkete.