Importing $400 million worth of chicken per year is a shame – President Mahama

Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, has stated that the country imports chicken worth around $400 million annually.

The President reiterated plans to assist 54 people in producing four million birds, or 10,000 metric tons of chicken, and said the imports should be a source of shame for all Ghanaians.

President Mahama emphasized the government’s dedication to promoting livestock development in order to increase the production of cattle and small ruminants, including as sheep and goats, as well as to increase access to superior breeds.

When he introduced the government’s Feed Ghana Program, a flagship project in Techiman, Bono East Region, the president made this clear.

He stated that the program’s livestock production component would also prioritize infrastructure and agro-producing enclaves.

Implementing irrigation systems, enhancing road infrastructure, supplying electricity, and setting up storage facilities that would draw in private investment are all part of that.

The scheme would significantly improve agricultural produce output and processing, according to the president.

President Mahama gave tractors, fertilizer, a Kia truck, and maize seeds to a few organizations, such as the Ghana Prisons Service and National Service Authority, to help them carry out the initiative.

In order to turn the country’s agriculture as a catalyst for growth and prosperity, he urged unity and shared commitment, stating that the Feed Ghana Program was a proactive initiative rather than merely a policy.

The President acknowledged that there were some difficulties in the industry, but he expressed great optimism that the program would be implemented successfully. He urged farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and development partners to work together so that the program would produce the desired results.

The program’s objectives are to create agro-industrial zones throughout Ghana, encourage the use of contemporary farming methods, enhance infrastructure, and undertake strategic steps to boost food production.

According to President Mahama, one of the main initiatives of the Feed Ghana Program is smart agriculture, which entails the construction of farmers’ service centers across the country.

Essential services like mechanization, high-quality inputs, financial assistance, market access, primary processing, and farmer training will be offered by the centers.

President Mahama declared that in order to assist young agri-entrepreneurs and improve the country’s food production, farm banks or land banks will be established in specific irrigable zones.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com