EU supports Feed Ghana Programme with 150,000 poultry birds, feed and veterinary medicines to 3,000 farmers
The European Union (EU) has provided 150,000 fully vaccinated poultry birds, along with feed and essential veterinary medicines, to 3,000 farmers across six districts in the Savannah, Upper East and North East Regions.
The intervention is aimed at strengthening the poultry sector, reducing Ghana’s reliance on imports, improving food and nutrition security, and creating sustainable jobs, particularly in rural communities. In total, about 15,000 households are expected to benefit from the initiative.
The support, delivered under the EU Food Security Response Northern Ghana Project, is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). It also complements the government’s Feed Ghana Programme.
Ghana currently spends between $300 million and $400 million annually on poultry imports. To address this, government and stakeholders are intensifying efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in poultry production within three years.
Presenting the birds to beneficiaries at Gbungu on Thursday, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to increase local production and reduce import dependence.
“Our aim is to make poultry products more affordable to Ghanaians, improve food security and provide sustainable income opportunities, especially for rural households,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to properly manage the birds to improve productivity and income levels. Mr Opoku also disclosed that government is establishing farmer service centres nationwide to provide mechanisation, inputs and technical support.
To reduce post-harvest losses, he added that food buffer warehouses and maize processing factories are being constructed to improve storage and value addition. He further noted that sufficient fertilisers have been procured for free distribution this farming season to ease production costs.
Speaking on sustainability, FAO Representative to Ghana, Priya Gujadhur, said beneficiaries have received training in poultry management and agribusiness skills to ensure long-term success.
“Empowering farmers to produce their own eggs and chicken promotes both sustainability and practical learning,” she said, adding that hatcheries and further technical support will also be provided to expand production.
The Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Ghana, Silvia Severi, stressed the importance of supporting smallholder farmers to achieve food security.
She noted that the €10 million EU Food Security Response Northern Ghana Project, launched in September 2023, targets over 50,000 farmers affected by global shocks and climate variability.
According to her, more than 12,000 farmers have already adopted improved agricultural technologies, leading to increased yields in 2025, while about 500 farmers have been trained in climate-adapted seed production, resulting in 11 established seed farms.
The Member of Parliament for Salaga North, Alhassan Mumuni, commended MoFA and its partners for the initiative, saying it would significantly improve livelihoods, especially for women in beneficiary communities.