The National Poultry Farmers Association (NPFA) has advised the government to exercise caution as it prepares to launch the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme.
It commended the initiative as a very good policy that may have a lasting impact on the poultry industry but warned that it may cause financial loss to the state if not properly executed.
The National Chairman of the Association, Mr George Dassah, who sounded the caution, opined that over the years, government after government had launched initiatives without strategic planning, making these policies mere political tools.
The Chairman further lamented the tendency for policies with the ability to transform the sector to be politicised and implemented without broad stakeholder input.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he asserted that Ghana lacks a strategic policy direction for the poultry industry, leading to every government launching initiatives whenever in power.
These policies, he noted, have all failed over the years because politicians fail to engage technocrats with the ability to fine-tune these policies in the national interest.
“Ghana lacks a strategic policy direction for the poultry industry that will be implemented in the interest of the country regardless of the government in power,” he argued, stating that previous policies were often politically motivated and only meant for political gains.
While commending the government for the initiative, he warned that failure to properly consult qualified technocrats and stakeholders could lead to flawed implementation. “If we don’t take care,” he concluded, “the implementation may cause financial loss to the state.”
Meanwhile, he had revealed the Association was yet to be consulted on the initiative, although the government is set to launch it on November 12, 2025.
About the Initiative
The Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative aims to significantly reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry, which currently accounts for 95% of national needs at an annual cost exceeding $300 million.
Key Details & Goals
* Total Distribution: Three million vaccinated birds are being distributed across all constituencies in Ghana.
* Timeline: Distribution began in mid-November, as announced by Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo.
* Constituency Allocation: Each constituency is expected to receive approximately 10,000 birds, shared among about 200 households.
* Beneficiary Share: Individual households will receive around 50 birds each.
* Overall Reach: The programme is designed to benefit 55,000 households nationwide.
* Support: Distributed birds are vaccinated, and feed will also be provided to selected participants to ensure successful rearing.
* Production System: This initiative supports a three-tier production system, as previously described by President Mahama, involving large-scale producers, medium-scale operators, and household entrepreneurs.
The government plans to invest in necessary infrastructure, including hatcheries, feed mills, processing facilities, and distribution networks. Specifically, processing plants will be constructed under the programme to ensure proper processing and storage. President Mahama is expected to break ground in November for a dedicated poultry processing centre at Bechem.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
