Government has officially commenced the procurement of birds and battery cages for farmers and households under the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ poultry project, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku announced on Saturday, June 23, 2025. This initiative aims to empower smallholder and urban farmers, boost domestic poultry production, and reduce the country’s dependency on imports.
A Bold Step Toward Poultry Self‑Sufficiency
The Nkoko Nkitinkiti project is part of a broader national campaign to revive Ghana’s agriculture sector through practical, household-level food production. With poultry imports accounting for nearly 95% of national consumption and costing the country over $300 million annually, the government sees the project as both a food security and economic priority.
Launched as part of the “Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II,” the initiative targets 55,000 households, providing beneficiaries with day-old chicks, battery cages, and technical support to rear poultry at home. Additional backing is being provided to anchor farmers, youth groups, and institutions like the National Service Secretariat to scale up commercial poultry operations across all 16 regions.
The government has committed an initial GH₵1.5 billion to the broader agricultural revitalization plan, with poultry as a key focus. Officials stress that this will help create jobs, reduce import costs, and support rural development.
Scaling Up and Ensuring Delivery
Initial phases include distributing 10,000 day-old chicks to pilot institutions and supporting clusters that will rear up to 100,000 broilers each. The larger national plan targets the production of over 1 million birds, including support for 50 anchor farmers to raise 4 million broilers collectively.
While the plan has been welcomed, agricultural stakeholders have urged the government to ensure clear timelines, transparent procurement, and strong accountability. Experts emphasize that inclusive implementation—particularly involving local farmers—will be key to the initiative’s success.
The project marks a major step toward reshaping Ghana’s poultry industry and creating a path toward sustainable, locally-led food systems.
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