Roadmap to train young poultry, livestock farmers launched

The roadmap for a training programme that sets the stage for the nationwide rollout of the ambitious young poultry and livestock farmers initiative has been launched .

It is under the Feed Ghana flagship programme.

The initiative, a public-private partnership (PPP), seeks to target 20,000 Ghanaian youth, mostly women, farmer groups and agripreneurs, over a four-year period, with Phase One  targeting 10,000 between 2025 and the end of 2026.

The programme is expected to create about 1.7 million direct and indirect jobs. 

Roadmap

The roadmap outlines regional training in two sessions every month across the 16 regions of the country, with a blended learning module that combines digital platforms, field demonstrations and one-on-one mentorship.

The training will be delivered in local languages spoken and understood by the participating public in each region.

The roadmap was jointly developed by the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI), Feedico Company Limited, Presidential Initiatives, the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, Local Government,  Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and other government agencies.

It addresses two of Ghana’s most urgent challenges: low sufficiency in poultry and livestock production and high youth unemployment rates, especially in rural areas where agriculture remains underutilised due to lack of training, mentorship and financial access.

Launch

Launching the roadmap in Accra last Tuesday, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Presidency, Dr  Peter Boamah Otokunor, said the country’s poultry and livestock industry was at a crossroads and could only be revitalised through the young poultry and livestock farming module to achieve food sovereignty and job creation.

“Agriculture is no longer just about hoes and cutlasses. It has transformed into a business that requires innovation, focusing on productivity and modern application of technical and digital tools,” he said.

Dr Otokunor emphasised that President Mahama is poised to roll out a series of ambitious programmes through his office that target young people under the Feed Ghana flagship programme. These programmes, he said, will eliminate the structural barriers limiting the full participation of women and young people in agriculture, agribusiness and its value chain.

The subsequent rollout of the young poultry and livestock farmers module will target 55,000 households to produce improved broiler breeds of about one million. 

Highlights

The acting Deputy Director of the CSIR-ARI,  Dr Doris Yaa Osei, highlighted the difficulties the country faces in meeting its growing meat demand.

The Chief Executive Officer of Feedico Ghana Limited, Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, highlighted the importance of the roadmap leading to the rollout of the young poultry and livestock farming module, which is projected to revolutionise smallholding farming in the country.

“Through the programme, the government is aiming to certify and empower over 10,000 Ghanaian youth to become skilled and business-oriented in the poultry and livestock industry,” he said.