Initiative launched to transform Ghana’s poultry and livestock sector

In a step towards food security and youth empowerment, the government has unveiled the roadmap for a transformative public-private partnership (PPP) under the Feed Ghana flagship programme. 

Launched on June 10, 2025, in Accra, the initiative aims to train 20,000 young Ghanaians, with a focus on women, farmer groups, and agripreneurs, in poultry and livestock farming over four years, with the first phase targeting 10,000 participants by the end of 2026.

The programme, poised to create approximately 1.7 million direct and indirect jobs, is designed to revitalise Ghana’s struggling poultry and livestock industry while addressing youth unemployment, particularly in rural areas. The roadmap outlines a robust training framework, featuring bi-monthly regional sessions across Ghana’s 16 regions. Delivered in local languages, the training combines digital platforms, field demonstrations, and one-on-one mentorship to equip participants with modern farming techniques.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, described the initiative as a game-changer for Ghana’s agricultural landscape. “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 stated. 

Dr Otokunor highlighted President Mahama’s commitment to dismantling barriers that limit women and youth participation in agriculture, noting that it is a cornerstone of the Feed Ghana programme’s broader ambitions.

The initiative targets 55,000 households to produce one million improved broiler breeds, supported by plans to establish and upgrade feedmills for affordable feed production. “With strong partnerships and political will, Ghana’s livestock and poultry sector will rise again,” Dr Otokunor declared, underscoring the government’s resolve to achieve food sovereignty and economic growth.

The Acting Deputy Director of the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, Dr Doris Yaa Osei, emphasized the programme’s role in addressing Ghana’s growing meat demand. She pointed to the Grains and Legumes Development Project, which aims to boost maize, rice, soybean, and sorghum production to ensure a steady supply of affordable feed for poultry, pigs, and micro-livestock.

Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, the CEO of Feedico Ghana Limited, hailed the initiative’s potential to revolutionise smallholder farming. “Through the program, 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. Chief Nsarko stressed the programme’s innovative use of local languages to ensure accessibility, stating, “Knowledge must not be blocked in translation. It must reach the people who need it most in the language they understand.”

Developed collaboratively by the CSIR-Animal Research Institute, Feedico Company Limited, Presidential Initiatives, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Ministry of Local Government, the roadmap tackles two critical challenges: low poultry and livestock production and high youth unemployment. By aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those on zero hunger, decent work, and sustainable production, ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ positions Ghana as a leader in innovative agribusiness.

As the programme prepares for its nationwide rollout, it promises to empower a new generation of farmers, boost local economies, and pave the way for a self-sufficient poultry and livestock sector. For Ghana’s youth, particularly women, this initiative offers not just a livelihood but a chance to shape the future of agriculture.