Dormaa-ahenkro: Baffour Kwadwo Damoah Afari, Sanaahene (sub-chief) of Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region, has called on the government to subsidize poultry feed for farmers to meet the growing national poultry demand and boost productivity. He emphasized that the high cost of feed is a significant barrier, as it restricts farmers from increasing their output to meet the annual national demand of 460,000 metric tons, with current production ranging between 57,000 metric tons and 60,000 metric tons.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made during the opening session of a two-day maiden poultry business clinic at Dormaa-Ahenkro. The event was organized by the Business Resource Centre (BRC), Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly, and the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association and attended by traditional authorities, input dealers, financial institutions, poultry farmers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector and poultry value chain.
Baffour Afari highlighted that poultry farmers spend about 80 percent of their capital on feed, and face additional challenges from the importation of low-cost poultry products from countries such as Argentina, Poland, Brazil, and Holland. Other obstacles include poultry diseases, lack of insurance for farms, poor farm management practices, and theft of eggs, all of which hinder the domestic poultry sector's growth and competitiveness.
He stressed the need for government intervention to make the sector more attractive, improve farmers' confidence, and increase productivity. Baffour Afari praised the poultry clinic's organization as crucial for advancing the economic prospects of the nation's poultry industry. He encouraged farmers to seek expertise from the Dormaa campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and to create a realistic database to enhance decision-making and attract development partner support.
In addition, Baffour Afari urged farmers to share accurate data to benefit from government intervention and tax incentives. He emphasized the importance of forming cooperatives to strengthen the sector.
Mr. Daniel Sena Tsorme, Head of the BRC, educated participants on various classifications of Micro, Small, Medium, and Enterprises (MSMEs), their differences, annual turnovers, and asset values. He pledged the Center's commitment to promoting the poultry industry in Dormaa Central Municipality and advised farmers to leverage social media for industry promotion.
Mr. Tsorme also encouraged women farmers to obtain certification and licensing from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for their pack houses or egg warehouses to ensure compliance with required standards.