OVERVIEW OF THE GHANAIAN POULTRY SECTOR: CURRENT STATE, TRENDS AND ISSUES OCTOBER 2013 COMFORT ACHEAMPONG

INTRODUCTION The poultry industry is perceived to be a major contributor to Ghana’s development through employment creation and the enhancement of nutrition and food security. In spite of these contributions, the poultry industry is entangled with a number of problems that necessitate redress.

Major Ghana Government Interventions in Poultry Industry

Largest provider of animal protein (egg and meat) Highest production growth in livestock sector Demand for meat has been growing even faster leading to growing imports of cheaper broiler meat 80% of poultry meat still from backyard producers and smallholders (<500 birds) 20% from commercial farmers of various holding stock Traditionally demand has been very seasonal for the broilers mainly at festive events.

Layer segment is growing, supply and demand for spent layer, though seasonal, is regular throughout the year but peaks at Christmas and Eastern Broilers meat (whole) sales prices vary from farm to farm. There is no exact quantities of layers produced, turning into spent layers and then layer meat, layers sold at live bird markets. Egg quantities not available Smallholder broiler producers predominate the broiler sector, while commercial broiler producers have converted into layer producers, because of less risk in layer production.eg Asutsuare Farm,Topman Farm

Poultry Consumption of poultry meat and eggs and sources of supply, VSD 2011 YearTotal ConsumptionDomesticImports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,788.43

Origins of poultry imports

Key issue: Erosion of competitiveness in broiler production Evidenced by: No of feed mills in operation reduced from 30 in 1988 to 12 in 2010 No of hatcheries in operation Idle processing plants e.g. Topman, Asamoah and Yamoah, Darko Ltd, Afariwa Livestock Ltd Idle poultry houses around the country (No. not known) Imports of frozen chicken meat increasing annually( from 30,261 mt in 2001 to 73,788mt in 2012

Main reasons for declining competitiveness in broiler production 1. Increasing costs of production feeding costs, quality of DOCs, veterinary inputs, high costs of capital; (Price of broiler doc - $ 1) 2. Little product diversification mainly live birds and dressed whole chicken, little processing (chicken cuts, sausages, etc.), 3. Limited coordination between urban demand and rural production; 4. Under-developed life-bird markets are little attractive for consumers. 5. High interest rate charged by banks (28 – 32%) 6. Unfavorable government policies

Costs of raising one broiler to 10 weeks Feed – GH¢ 9.00 (Nine Ghana Cedis) Drugs- GH¢ 2.00 DOC- GH¢ 2.50 Vaccines- GH¢.50 Miscellaneous - GH¢ 1.00 Total cost of production GH¢ Selling price - GH ¢ 20-25, Live bird

Feed IngredientsQty,kgTotal,GHC% Maize Wheat bran Fishmeal Drop off Cotton seed Soyabean Osyter shell Lysine Methione Premix Salt Total Typical feed composition,2011

Feed IngredientsQty,kgTotal,GHC% Maize Wheat bran Fishmeal Dicalcium Phosphate Soyabean Osyter shell Premix Methione Salt Toxin binder Total Typical feed composition,2013

Possible future directions of Ghanaian poultry sector Following persistent advocacy by the Ghana National Poultry Farmers Association, Government is now heeding to the need for policy change. Discussions are far advanced towards revitalizing Broiler production on a large scale to achieve price competitiveness 1. Market segmentation and developing niche- markets for high-quality domestic poultry meat; 2. Reducing cost and improving availability and quality of key inputs; 3. Strengthening rural small-scale poultry production to service local demand and enhance livelihoods

4. Improving coordination within the poultry value chain (from feed to fork) 5. Improving processing, storage and marketing infrastructure 6. Securing anchor markets of Agencies/institutions under state feeding. eg. School feeding program etc. 7. Competitive pricing and expansion of distribution network 8. Re introduction of poultry projects in schools and institutions. 9. Re introduction of the Out-grower scheme

Free range chickens

Thank you