Three hundred poultry farmers, including women in the Bono Region, have undergone intensive training to enhance their skills in poultry production.
The one-day capacity-building programme, dubbed “Innovative Poultry Solutions Seminar,” was held in Sunyani and Dormaa-Ahenkro, the country’s leading poultry hubs, to equip farmers with modern techniques to boost productivity and ensure sustainable operations.
Organised by Intraco Ltd, a leading supplier of feed concentrates in partnership with Sky Agro and Aquaculture Solutions Ltd, the seminar forms part of efforts to strengthen local poultry production, cut down on imports, and enhance the country's food security.
The farmers were trained in heat stress management, automatic feeding and drinking, biosecurity products, how to maintain their farms and birds to prevent diseases and vaccination among other technologies.
It was held on the theme: "Innovative Poultry Solution: Housing, Day-old chick management, nutrition, and feed additives to optimise productivity for Ghanaian poultry farmers."
Food security
In Sunyani last Tuesday, the Manager of Poultec, Wadih Kai, a dealer in poultry equipment, said poultry was vital for Ghana's food security and economy.
The farmers in Sunyani
He explained that the demand for poultry products in the country was growing rapidly.
Mr Kai underscored the need for farmers to apply strict biosecurity design and ensure cleanliness in their farms, and adopt automated feeding and drinking methods.
He encouraged them to ensure proper ventilation by installing tunnel fans and curtains to control temperature.
He said adopting the innovations would significantly reduce mortality from heat stress, improve feed conversion and ensure higher and more consistent egg production.
Mr Kai mentioned high upfront investment, lack of financing support and power supply in rural areas as some of the challenges facing Ghanaian farmers.
He said that despite the challenges, the country had huge potential and opportunities to produce enough to meet the rising domestic demand and reduce importation.
Mr Kai said poultry housing was the backbone of success in the industry.
Egg factory
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sky Agro and Aquaculture Solutions Ltd, Alfred Kwame Agbetsise, called on the government to establish an egg processing factory to process fresh eggs into powder form for export and local consumption.
He also urged the government to implement tough policies that would discourage the importation of poultry products, particularly meat.
"It can be in the form of high importation tariffs and restrictions on the importation of poultry meat," he said.
Mr Agbetsise said the three strategic companies from Belgium facilitated training on the management of day-old chicks, poultry housing, feed, and nutrition to improve production.
Nutritional requirements
The Africa Area Sales Manager of Intraco Ltd, Steven Van Caekenberghe, urged farmers to feed their birds correctly to meet their changing nutritional requirements throughout the laying cycle.
He explained that proper feeding of poultry was critical to achieve optimal production and longevity.
Mr Caekenberghe urged farmers to avoid heat stress in their farms to reduce production losses.
Diseases
The CEO of Geldof, a day-old chicks hatchery company, Pieter Geldof, urged farmers to vaccinate their birds against various diseases.
He said the company always ensured that fresh day-old chicks were vaccinated and insisted on proper handling of birds.
Mr Geldof said that his company always ensured good management, kept track of vaccinations, feed and water intake to promote the good health of their birds.
Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh
