Ghana revitalization project launched #ghana

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has not banned the
importation of meat products, Dr Louisa Hannah Bissiw,
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of
livestock, has disclosed.
Dr Bissiw, who made the disclosure at the launch of the
Ghana Broiler Revitalization Project in Accra, explained that
the Ministry had rather regulated the level of imported meat
products to make space for the local market. She said the
objective of the project, which was being implemented
under the theme "Promoting Ghana Poultry for Jobs,
Incomes, Good Health and Economic Stability," was to
boost local production and processing of the country's
broiler chicken.
According to Dr Bissiw, in designing this project, the
Ministry took into consideration president Mahama's call on
all Ghanaians to patronize made in Ghana goods, adding
that the Ministry was totally committed to this project.
She commended Boris B's Farms and Veterinary Supplies
Gh. Ltd. for the production of the first 1000,000 broilers.
At the launch, the Ghana National Association of Poultry
Farmers (GNAPF) hinted that the project would pave way
for job creation since every 10,000 broiler had ability to
provide not more than 120 jobs.
The GNAPF expressed appreciation for the project because
it would ensure the involvement of as many poultry farmers
as possible to strengthen the Association.
The Deputy Director of the Veterinary Services Directorate,
Dr S Ockling, disclosed that the National capacity of
chicken fell below 20% compared to 80% previously.
According to Dr Ockling, imports from Brazil, USA and EU
that had assumed prominence and tended to be about 30 to
40% cheaper, accounted for falling capacity.
He said other causes were the unstable prices of key input,
especially maize and soya, low access to credit and high
interest rate, resulting in high input cost and the absence of
a state policy for poultry development including hatchery
bill were some of the challenges of the project.