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The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has called for farmers to be placed at the centre of efforts to scale up Ghana’s poultry industry, stressing that sustainable growth in the sector will only be achieved through practical investments and policies that directly address farmers’ challenges.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of GNAFF at the 6th Ghana National Poultry Day Festival held at the State House in Accra on July 1, 2026, Dr. Abutu Kapori said Ghana possesses the resources and market potential to achieve poultry self-sufficiency but must overcome key barriers that continue to limit local production.
Speaking on the theme, “Driving Local Production: The Critical Role of Farmers in Scaling Ghana’s Poultry Industry,” Dr. Kapori commended organisers of the National Poultry Day celebration for recognising the contributions of poultry farmers to Ghana’s food security and economic development.
He noted that despite steady growth in the poultry sector over the past decade, Ghana continues to rely heavily on imported chicken, describing the situation as both a challenge and an opportunity. According to him, increasing domestic poultry production would help retain foreign exchange, create jobs across the value chain, strengthen food security, and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Dr. Kapori emphasised that farmers must be actively involved in developing policies affecting the sector, arguing that their participation would promote ownership and ensure long-term sustainability.
He identified three major obstacles confronting poultry farmers: the high and unstable cost of feed, limited access to affordable credit, and persistent disease outbreaks coupled with inadequate biosecurity infrastructure. He explained that feed accounts for the largest share of production costs, while high lending rates and limited financing opportunities continue to hinder farm expansion. He also highlighted the devastating impact of diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease on poultry production.
To address these challenges, Dr. Kapori proposed a series of measures, including expanding incentives for local maize and soya production, establishing regional feed cooperatives, developing poultry-specific loan products, strengthening farmers’ financial management skills, and improving access to veterinary services, vaccines, and disease surveillance systems.
He further urged state institutions, schools, hospitals, and the security services to prioritise the purchase of locally produced poultry while calling for stronger partnerships between processors, retailers, and farmer cooperatives to improve market access.
Additionally, he appealed for continued investment in rural infrastructure, including feeder roads, electricity, and cold-chain facilities, to reduce post-production losses and improve the competitiveness of local producers.
Dr. Kapori also underscored the importance of empowering young people and women through targeted training, improved access to credit, and land acquisition initiatives, describing them as the future drivers of Ghana’s poultry industry.
He encouraged poultry farmers to adopt modern production practices, strengthen record-keeping, improve biosecurity measures, and work collectively through farmer associations to enhance their bargaining power and influence national policy.
Concluding his address, Dr. Kapori said Ghana has the land, labour, climate, and consumer demand needed to become self-sufficient in poultry production and eventually emerge as a regional leader. He urged government, the private sector, and farmers to work together to invest in feed production, financing, disease control, infrastructure, and market development to build a resilient and competitive poultry industry.