President John Dramani Mahama is set to officially launch the Nkoko Nketenkete Poultry Project in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, marking a key government initiative to rejuvenate Ghana’s poultry industry and enhance rural livelihoods.
The initiative, a flagship campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress in the 2024 general elections, is a comprehensive programme aimed at boosting domestic poultry production by empowering farmers at the household, medium, and large-scale levels.
Dr Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, announced the upcoming launch during the Akwasidae celebration at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, on Sunday, November 9, where he led members of the Ashanti Regional Security Council to pay homage to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
Under the Nkoko Nketenkete Project, farmers at all levels would receive day-old chicks, feed, and vaccines, supported by a guaranteed buy-back arrangement.
Once the birds mature, they would be purchased by the government for processing and marketing under a new national poultry brand associated with the project.
The choice of Kumasi as the launch site underscores the Ashanti region’s pivotal role in Ghana’s agricultural transformation and rural development agenda.
By equipping smallholder and household poultry producers with inputs and securing a ready market, the project is expected to expand economic opportunities for rural farmers, youth, and women.
Wednesday’s launch would include the unveiling of the Nkoko Nketenkete brand and an outline of how households and small producers could enroll in the programme.
For the Ashanti region, the project presents a strategic opportunity to strengthen local economic activity, enhance employment, and position the region as a model for agribusiness-led growth within Ghana’s development framework.
The region has over the years, been a major player in the poultry industry with big names such as the Darko Farms, Boris B Farms, Akate Farms, Nfum Farms and many others, leading in the production of poultry products for both the local and international markets.
More than a stand-alone agricultural initiative, the Nkoko Nketenkete Poultry Project forms a strategic pillar in the Mahama administration’s drive to transform Ghana’s food system, promote self-reliance in poultry production, and empower communities through sustainable livelihoods.
Stakeholders across the agricultural value chain are expected to follow the launch closely to ensure that the project delivers tangible results and long-term benefits on the ground.
Source: Access Agric
