Women Poultry and Livestock Association launched in Bolgatanga
An association aimed at mobilising women, youth, girls and vulnerable persons to fully engage in poultry and livestock production has been launched at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
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Dubbed: “Women Poultry and Livestock Association” (WOPOLA), it will mobilise targeted groups to engage in poultry and livestock production as a business to ensure food security in the five northern regions.
The objectives of the association are to promote guinea fowl production among the target group, build their capacity in business management and improve their livelihoods through poultry and livestock production, among others.
Launching the association last Friday, the Regional Director, Department of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Fuseini Zakaria, said the government recognised the role of women in the development of the agricultural sector.
“It is against this backdrop that the women in agricultural development directorate has been created at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support women to contribute to the growth of the sector”.
He urged the association to take advantage of the rearing for food and jobs initiative to increase poultry and livestock production in the country, saying: “There are several opportunities in the agricultural value chain that women can capitalise on to improve the sector”.
Further, he assured the members of WOPOLA that the directorate would be committed to building their capacities in poultry and livestock management so that they can employ the best practices in their operations.
The President of WOPOLA, Theresah Benedicta Alegmiah, said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in their collective effort to promote women in poultry and livestock production.
She mentioned that they were motivated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to come up with the association after their capacities were built particularly in animal health for poultry and livestock.
With the establishment of WOPOLA, she said the association would collaborate with the veterinary services directorate and MoFA to support the delivery of animal health, particularly in remote communities.
Mass vaccination
She advocated for the annual mass vaccination against anthrax in livestock, Newcastle in local chicken and guinea fowl, as well as other diseases that usually affected sheep and goats to protect the industry.
“The outbreaks of these animal diseases affect the interest of women in keeping livestock since at the end of the day all the animals die, leaving the keeper or owner poorer,” she indicated and commended all stakeholders for their support that led to the registration and subsequent inauguration of the association.
A retired educationist, Elizabeth Asige, who chaired the event, said women continue to venture into many businesses to better their standard of living and urged the women to embrace the association and support it to make meaningful contributions to the progress of the agricultural value chain.
Writer’s email;gilbert.agbey@graphic.com