Poultry farmers in Ghana’s Bono Region are raising alarm as their businesses approach collapse due to a significant oversupply of eggs, falling prices, and increasing debts.
This crisis threatens not only the farmers’ livelihoods but also a vital economic sector in the region.
The Bono Region is known as the heart of Ghana’s poultry production, hosting over 300 registered farms that employ hundreds of young people. This area is responsible for producing half of the country’s poultry products. However, the current situation is dire.
Samuel Komla Foli, a poultry farmer in Kweku Badukrom, attributes these challenges to an unprecedented glut in egg production. The oversupply has produced a steep decline in prices, putting immense pressure on farmers who struggle to sustain their operations.
“The market is flooded, and we can’t sell at profitable rates. Many of us are drowning in debt, the current egg glut is unlike anything we’ve seen before”, he lamented.
Matthew Frimpong Quaidoo, Administrative Manager at G.I Nyame Aye Awie Ampa Company Limited (GINAAAC), emphasizes the need for government intervention. He is calling for incentives and loans to support poultry farmers throughout the country, arguing that urgent help is essential to keep them afloat.
“We need subsidies, low-interest loans, and policies to stabilize the industry before it collapses, without immediate assistance from the government, many farmers will be pushed out of business,” Mr. Quaidoo warns.
In response to the crisis, the Dormaa Business Resource Centre, in collaboration with the Poultry Farmers Association and the Municipal Assembly, recently organized a crisis clinic to develop strategic solutions for the industry. Daniel Sena Tsorme, the Manager of the Dormaa Municipal Business Resource Centre, highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing these challenges.
“We must work together to find sustainable solutions to this crisis that threatens our livelihoods and food security,” states Tsorme.
Moreover, Municipal Chief Executive for Dormaa Central, Dominic Adoma Ameyaw, has voiced his support for revitalizing the poultry sector through potential partnerships for export and input subsidies.
“It’s crucial that we act swiftly to support our poultry farmers. They play a significant role in our local economy and food supply,” Ameyaw emphasized.
As farmers in Dormaa await government action, they wonder if help will arrive in time to save this essential industry. For now, their urgent calls for support grow louder every day.
