Ghana supports foreign economies against her own through unbridled poultry imports

Interest groups in the poultry and livestock industry say they are looking up to a more rationalized national economic policy that favours indigenous Ghanaian farmers.

They are worried that the influx of imported poultry products which threatens their jobs and employment generation for the youth, is also a serious threat to national food security.

Poultry farmers in the Ashanti Region have been attending a seminar on “Guides for Better Poultry Management”, jointly organised by Laprovet SAS, a France-based veterinary drug manufacturer and their local representative, Maridav Ghana Limited, a leading supplier of animal health and nutrition products.

According to the Managing Director of Maridav, Ernest Owusu-Afari, “A major challenge to local poultry farmers is the negative effects of the hot climatic conditions of the sub-region. Adverse effects of excessive exposure to high temperatures include excessive panting, poor growth and development of birds and reduced egg production and size, and lower egg shell quality.”

He said the capacity-building programme will equip poultry farmers with proven techniques for efficient and rewarding poultry production, adding that the company is committed to supporting farmers improve managerial practices and optimal utilization of resources.

Later in an interview with Luv FM, Mr. Owusu-Afari noted that the unbridled poultry imports are weakening the capacity of local farmers, and in effect makes Ghana an exporter of jobs to other economies.

He said there is an urgent need to balance the needs of the Ghanaian poultry farmer against the needs of the population at large.

“Personally it is my opinion that perhaps it is a little short-sighted to open the floodgates to the extent to which we have done over the past couple of decades and in so doing we have weakened the Ghanaian poultry farmer and it's a source of worry to us”, Mr. Owusu-Afari stated.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv FM/Ghana