Ghana, a nation celebrated for its rich agricultural heritage, faces a critical turning point in its poultry industry. Despite increasing demand for meat and eggs within urban centers, local poultry production continues to lag behind, forcing the country to depend heavily on imports. This reliance not only exacerbates foreign exchange outflows but also limits economic opportunities for youth and smallholder producers. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach focusing on feed availability, youth engagement, and value-chain resilience.
A primary impediment to enhancing poultry production in Ghana is the cost and scarcity of high-quality feed. Maize and soybean constitute approximately 70 percent of poultry feed expenses. However, farmers frequently encounter irregular supplies and volatile prices of these key ingredients. Prior interventions, such as subsidies in the “Planting for Food and Jobs” initiative, have aimed to boost cereal and legume production through the distribution of improved seeds and fertilizer support. While such efforts have increased national yield levels—maize reaching roughly 5.7 tonnes per hectare and soybeans 5.1 tonnes per hectare in some regions—the link to poultry feed remains insufficiently developed.
Beyond feed, Ghana’s poultry sector must address structural and institutional bottlenecks. Historically, commercial farms thrived in the 1970s and 1980s, but many later collapsed under the pressure of inexpensive imports and operational challenges. Today, only a few large hatcheries operate near capacity, while smaller providers suffer from limited access to credit, training, and robust infrastructure . Additionally, the absence of effective policy enforcement—such as higher tariffs on frozen poultry—has perpetuated a market imbalance, favoring imported products over locally made ones.
Yet, opportunities for transformation abound. Youth empowerment presents a potent lever for change. Ghana’s rising youth unemployment—hovering around 20 percent—could find relief through targeted programs linking young entrepreneurs to poultry farming. By embedding poultry rearing within broader rural development schemes, young farmers can engage in value-added activities such as feed formulation, poultry processing, and cold-chain management. Moreover, global trends such as the ECOWAS-supported West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) in Ghana, which promotes climate-smart agriculture across maize, soy, and broiler value chains, offer a vital platform to catalyze youth-led ventures.
Government intervention remains indispensable. Public-private partnerships can deliver subsidized inputs, training, and biosecurity support to small-scale farmers. Additionally, reintroducing effective tariffs on frozen chicken and enhancing quality assurance for local products would level the domestic market. Complementary to these steps, establishing processing facilities and cold-storage infrastructure will reduce post-harvest waste, enable regional trade, and raise consumer confidence in fresh poultry.
Furthermore, structured financing schemes—such as cooperatives or credit unions—can mitigate capital barriers for farmers transitioning from subsistence to commercial operations. Incubation programs that focus on intensive poultry production, including broilers and layers, should integrate mentorship, risk management, and market development. These programs will stimulate rural economies, especially when youth and women are prioritised.
Reviving Ghana’s poultry sector requires a multi-pronged strategy: strengthening maize and soy feed chains, creating youth-focused agricultural enterprise pathways, enforcing supportive trade policies, and building processing and financial structures. By shifting from dependency on imports toward domestic productivity, Ghana can capitalize on its abundant agricultural potential, generate employment for its youth, and enhance national food security. With concerted effort from government, development programs, and private sector partnerships, the once-declining poultry industry can rise again, propelling Ghana toward a more resilient and prosperity-driven future.
