According to the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF), around 400 poultry farms in the country had to cease operations due to a variety of factors, including high production costs mostly driven by the price of raw materials and feed.
The association has identified several factors as major contributors to the demise of the sector, including the current interest rate, an increase in chicken imports, bird flu, and labour costs.
“The current situation is dire, and our farmers are losing millions through the closure of their farms. We are at the emergency level now. As it stands, 70 percent of existing farms nationwide are empty,” – Victor Oppong Adjei, President of the GNAPF.
The cost of raw materials, feed, labour, and land tenure, among other factors, continue to have a detrimental influence on the industry, he claimed, making demands for authorities to reconsider and strategize for a stronger chicken sector ineffective.
Due to persistent demand on the local market, importation of poultry goods including frozen chicken is rising.