President of the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers, Victor Oppong-Adjei has indicated that Ghana spent about $168 million in 2013 on the importation of chicken into the country.
He disclosed that the country imported 171, 000 metric tons of chickens during the period under review.
According to him, players in the industry must engage policy-makers and development partners to improve the broiler value chain.
Addressing polytechnic students in Kumasi at a chicken recipe competition, the GNAPF President stressed the need to reduce the cost of production in order to compete favourably with importers of chicken.
‘With the current dispensation, even though locally produced poultry may be fresh, frozen and of quality, its price per kilogram is a disincentive for consumers,’ Mr. Adjei stressed.
He intimated that the poultry farmers would increase production and supply of broilers in the local market from the current 10 percent to 40 percent over the next five years.
He disclosed that demand for local broilers had increased as a result of awareness creation and the preference by the middle class who consider local broilers as of healthy and sumptuous.
Mr. Adjei said GNAPF had acknowledged that imports of chicken from America and Europe had also increased the consumption of poultry in the country.
The association, he added, had established good relations with the United States of America Poultry and Eggs Export Council (USAPEEC) over the past six years, collaborating in programmes to improve the Ghanaian industry.
‘Chicken Recipe Competition’
The chicken recipe competition, an initiative of USAPEEC and GNAPF, drew contestants from the Catering and Hospitality Management Department of eight polytechnics in the country.
Zelda Sharp, USPEEC Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, indicated that the competition was aimed at contributing to the development of young Ghanaian talents to help share creative ideas.
Sophia Ekua Howard, a final-year student of Kumasi Polytechnic, was adjudged winner of the chicken recipe competition, taking home a stainless five-burner gas cooker with grill and oven after securing 387.5 points.
David Eshun of Takoradi Polytechnic, who secured 361 points, placed second and took home a chest freezer.
The third prize, a four-burner gas cooker with oven, went to Gifty Korsah of Accra Polytechnic after obtaining 355 points, while Michael Dose clinched the fourth position with 341.5 points.
