The National President of the Poultry Farmers Association, George Dassah, has asserted that beneficiaries of the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ initiative who ultimately consumed their matured birds lacked the genuine passion required for poultry farming.
While describing the government-led initiative as a commendable policy, Mr Dassah indicated that the execution of the initial phase—which involved distributing day-old chicks to selected individuals—was poorly managed.
Speaking in an interview on As It Is In Ghana on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM (Ghana) and Rainbow Radio 92.4FM (UK), he emphasised that the beneficiaries should have undergone comprehensive training prior to receiving the chicks.
He maintained that while the initiative deserves full support to succeed, the challenges encountered during the first phase must be thoroughly addressed to prevent a recurrence in the upcoming second phase.
“We heard about the news that some people had consumed the chicks after they matured. Some of those who received the chicks had no passion for poultry farming. That indicates we failed in investigating and proving to find dedicated and passionate individuals. The policy is very good but the way it is being implemented is what has caused the situation.
Before the chicks were handed over to them, there should have been an orientation, education, but it was not done and so the beneficiaries thought the chicks they received were for free and consumption. Moving forward, our proposal is that this should not happen again. We should learn from the first phase and not repeat the mistakes. As an Association, we believe the policy is good and if it succeeds, it will transform the industry.”
Mr Dassah urged the government to take valuable lessons from the missteps of the first phase and implement robust measures to optimise the rollout of phase two.
He reiterated that while the association stands firmly behind the policy, those who ate the matured livestock clearly lacked interest and commitment to the trade.
He further explained that entering the poultry sector requires basic husbandry knowledge, proper housing structures for the birds, and a modest amount of starting capital.
The Association President concluded by noting that although poultry farming is highly capital-intensive, aspiring farmers should start on a small scale to gather the necessary experience before expanding their operations.
He assured the public that poultry farmers across the country remain fully prepared to support the initiative to ensure its ultimate success.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
