Sunyani: Managing Director of Enapa Farms at Yawhima, near Sunyani, in the Bono Region, has called on the Mahama government to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of resources under its poultry intervention initiatives, particularly the 'Nkoko Nkitikiti' programme. Augustus Annan said that while such policies were laudable and had the potential to revive the poultry sector, their impact would only be felt if resources reached genuine farmers actively engaged in production.
According to Ghana Web, Annan expressed his initial excitement about the programme, thinking it would boost the poultry business. However, he noted that despite applying for the birds, he did not benefit from the initiative. Annan remains hopeful that future distributions will be fair, emphasizing the importance of targeting genuine poultry farmers for the success of the programme.
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 some 13,000 farmers across 12 districts. Annan expressed concern about the project's success if it fails to reach the right targets, drawing attention to similar past interventions that did not achieve their intended purpose due to poor targeting.
Annan highlighted that sometimes resources go to individuals lacking experience in poultry farming, leading them to sell the birds to established farmers. He urged the government to conduct due diligence to ensure resources are allocated to the right beneficiaries. Annan also touched on the state of the poultry industry in Sunyani and its environs, describing it as promising, yet hindered by high production costs and market fluctuations.
His farm, currently housing about 2,500 birds, produces between 64 and 65 crates of eggs daily. Like many others, Annan had to scale down operations last year due to poor patronage. He noted that although market conditions had slightly improved, challenges such as rising feed costs, unpredictable weather, and disease outbreaks persist.
Annan emphasized the need for regular veterinary services, as farmers heavily rely on them during disease outbreaks, incurring significant costs. He appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide more support to poultry farmers in this regard. Despite the challenges, Annan remains optimistic about the sector's viability, revealing plans to expand his farm to a new site to increase production and create employment.
He also urged financial institutions to offer accessible credit facilities to support poultry farmers, stressing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to sustain the industry. Annan encouraged young people to consider poultry farming, highlighting its potential rewards when managed properly, and advising against solely relying on government jobs.