The National Vice President of the Poultry Farmers Association, Dr Boris Baidoo, has called for urgent reforms to save Ghana's poultry industry.
He mentioned, among things, the ban on the influx of cheap frozen poultry products from abroad, which continues to cripple local farmers.
"Every time imported chicken floods our markets, local farmers lose the motivation to expand. It's not about competition, it's about fairness. If we can't produce feed competitively or access credit at reasonable rates, how do we compete on the same stage?" he asked.
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"Despite years of advocacy, the absence of an effective import management system and affordable feed production continues to undermine the competitiveness of the domestic industry," he said.
Dr Baidoo, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boris B's Farms and Veterinary Supplies Ghana Limited, said that while filled with immense potential, the local poultry sector was currently burdened by structural and economic pressures demanding immediate national attention.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday on development confronting the local industry, he added:
"We are not short of talent or passion; what we lack is consistent policy direction and urgent steps required to secure its future sustainability."
While acknowledging the remarkable dedication of Ghanaian poultry farmers, Dr Baidoo was quick to highlight the policy inconsistencies that have long impeded growth.
"We are not short of talent or passion in this sector. What we lack is consistent policy direction and a well-coordinated framework that empowers local producers rather than making them perpetual victims of import dependence," he stressed.
Dr Baidoo also identified feed cost as the single most pressing issue strangling the sector.
"About 70 per cent of the cost of poultry production is feed related. Once maize and soy prices go up, everything collapses. Until we fix our input supply system and support local production, the poultry industry will remain at the mercy of global commodity prices," he explained.
He therefore called for a renewed partnership between government, private investors, and research institutions to develop affordable and sustainable local feed alternatives.
"We need to think beyond traditional feed ingredients. There are opportunities in by-products and locally available protein sources that can significantly reduce costs if well researched and supported," he added.
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"The future of poultry is not in subsidies, it is in innovation. We must invest in hatchery technology, modern feeding systems, and efficient veterinary services. Our farmers must be trained, not just assisted," he asserted.
He also called for a unified national poultry policy backed by data-driven decision making.
"We need to move from talk to action. The government, academia, and the private sector must speak with one voice and implement a roadmap that ensures food security and industry survival," he urged.
Moving forward, Dr Baidoo reaffirmed his belief in the resilience of Ghana's poultry farmers, emphasising that it was not the time to give up but rather the time to rise stronger, smarter, and more united.
The poultry industry, he said, was not just about chicken. "It is about livelihoods, nutrition, and national development," he concluded.
