Report by Ben LARYEA
The Ghana Branch in collaboration with the World Poultry Science Association have organized a one day national poultry seminar with the call on government to support poultry farmers to salvage the industry from collapse. The seminar created a platform for stakeholders in the poultry sector to discuss and deliberate on challenges affecting the poultry industry and solutions to be put in place to address issues affecting the industry.
Speaking at the seminar in Accra, under the theme, ‘’A Paradigm Shift in Commercial Poultry Production in Ghana for National Development,’’ The Secretary General of the World Poultry Science Association, Dr. Peter Van Horne said government must support the poultry industry to enable it be at a competitive edge at the global market. According to him, there is a high demand for poultry meat in the country hence government must put in place adequate measures as part of the effort to boost domestic production. He however urged government to control the importation of poultry meat inspite of the free trade that allows poultry products into the country.
The General Secretary stated that Brazil is the champion in poultry products and said other European counties also import from them under strict trade agreements, saying poultry is the leading in global meat consumption in the world.
Dr. Anthony Pokoo-Aikens from the United States Department of Agriculture urged government to adequately support poultry famers to enable them have a competitive price over foreign poultry products, adding that local poultry produce continue to be high in terms of pricing.
He suggested that government’s flagship program ‘’Planting for food and jobs” must involve stakeholders in the poultry value chain and added that imported poultry meat is killing the local industry.
For her part, the Secretary-General for WPSAGHB, Madam Comfort Acheampong called on government to come to the rescue of local poultry farmers and explained that the importation of poultry has affected the growth of the local industry.
She therefore advised government to involve local poultry farmers in decision making to help address challenges in the sector.
