EU donates 150,000 poultry birds, feed to boost Ghana’s local production

GHANA – The European Union (EU), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has donated 150,000 fully vaccinated poultry birds, along with feed and veterinary medicines, to 3,000 farmers across six districts in northern Ghana, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic poultry production and reduce imports.

The intervention, delivered under the EU Food Security Response Northern Ghana Project and aligned with the government’s “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” initiative under the Feed Ghana Programme, is expected to benefit around 15,000 households in the Savannah, Upper East, and North East Regions. 

It targets improved food security, job creation and reduced reliance on imported poultry products, which currently cost Ghana between US$300 million and US$400 million annually.

Speaking at the distribution event in Gbungu, Minister of Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku said the initiative is designed to directly support national production goals. 

“Our aim is to make poultry products more affordable to Ghanaians, improve food security and provide sustainable income opportunities, especially for rural households,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to prioritise proper management of the birds to maximise productivity and income gains. 

Opoku also highlighted complementary government interventions, including the rollout of farmer service centres to provide mechanisation, inputs and technical support, as well as investments in storage and processing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.

The FAO Representative to Ghana, Priya Gujadhur, emphasised the importance of capacity building alongside input support. 

“Empowering farmers to produce their own eggs and chicken promotes both sustainability and practical learning,” she said.

She added that beneficiaries have also received training in poultry management and business skills to ensure long-term viability.

In addition to bird distribution, the programme includes hatchery support and technical training to help farmers scale production beyond initial inputs.

Silvia Severi, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ghana, said the broader programme is focused on strengthening resilience among smallholder farmers. 

“Empowering smallholder farmers remains crucial for attaining food security in the country,” she said.

She added that the EU-funded project, launched in September 2023 with €10 million (US$11.69 million) in funding, targets more than 50,000 farmers affected by global shocks such as the Russia–Ukraine conflict and climate variability. 

So far, over 12,000 farmers have adopted improved agricultural technologies, contributing to higher yields in 2025, while about 500 farmers have been trained in climate-adapted seed production, leading to the establishment of 11 seed farms.

The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader strategy to achieve poultry self-sufficiency within three years, positioning local production as a key lever to cut import dependency and strengthen national food systems.

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