Mahama launches 'Nkoko Nkitinkiti' project to supply 3 million birds to households nationwide

President John Dramani Mahama has launched the "Nkoko Nkitinkiti" Household and Backyard Poultry Production Initiative, a national programme that will distribute three million birds to about 60,000 households across all 276 constituencies.

The launch took place at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

President Mahama described the initiative as more than a government project, calling it a national movement to restore food self-sufficiency, strengthen household resilience, and promote sustainable livelihoods for thousands of Ghanaians, especially women, youth, and vulnerable families.

He explained that the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project forms part of the government’s Poultry Industry Revitalisation Programme, which itself falls under the broader Feed Ghana Programme within the National Plan for Agricultural Transformation, Food Sovereignty, and Shared Prosperity.

Under the initiative, each constituency will receive 10,000 birds. Every participating household will get 50 birds, along with feed support and technical guidance.

The President said the breeds, mainly pullets and cockerels, were selected for their resilience, adaptability, and high productivity under local conditions.

Mr Mahama said the project follows a successful pilot in 13 districts that benefited 13,000 farmers.

The pilot, he noted, showed that backyard poultry could provide better nutrition, create jobs, and support small-scale agribusiness.

Outlining the government’s broader target, Mr Mahama said Ghana aims to increase its poultry self-sufficiency level from 12 per cent to more than 75 per cent by 2028.

He noted that Ghana spent over $350 million on poultry imports in 2023 alone, describing it as a drain on foreign exchange and a missed opportunity for local farmers and entrepreneurs.

The President also announced plans for a modern poultry processing factory to be established in Bechem in the Bono Region under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

He said procurement processes were ongoing and that once completed, the facility would serve as a ready market for producers in the Bono, Ashanti, and Bono East regions.

To support the success of the programme, Mr Mahama said the government would roll out additional measures. 

These include the establishment of 270 farmer service centres to provide mechanisation, inputs, and extension services; expansion of veterinary and animal health services; and the introduction of an agri-financing scheme to offer affordable credit for poultry farmers.

He urged traditional and religious leaders to help drive community participation and called on the private sector to invest in hatcheries, feed mills, cold chain systems, and processing plants.

“The success of this programme depends on our collective efforts. It is a citizen’s movement for food security and self-reliance,” he said.

Mr Mahama added that the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative represents more than poultry production.

“It embodies the spirit of renewal and self-belief. Let us take pride in producing what we eat and eating what we make,” he added.