Treat Nkoko Nkitinkiti as a business, not just for consumption – Eric Opoku tells beneficiaries

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has encouraged beneficiaries of the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative to view the programme as an income-generating venture by selling a significant portion of the birds they receive rather than consuming all of them.

Speaking on the topic “The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nkitinkiti” on Friday, July 17, the minister said beneficiaries may keep some birds for household consumption, but they should focus on expanding their stock and using the project as a means of generating income.

According to Mr Opoku, the main goal of the initiative is to increase domestic poultry production, strengthen Ghana’s poultry value chain and create sustainable opportunities for participants.

He explained that the government’s vision goes beyond increasing the number of birds in households, stressing the need to develop systems for processing, value addition and efficient movement of poultry products from farms to consumers.

The minister identified access to reliable markets as one of the major challenges confronting poultry farmers and emphasised that value addition would be critical to transforming the sector.

To address the issue, he disclosed that the government has begun the construction of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Processing Centre in Bechem, following the launch of the backyard poultry project.

The facility, he said, would provide a ready market for farmers, support poultry processing, promote value addition and improve the competitiveness of Ghana’s poultry industry.

“You have been given the birds, and you are a human being, so you cannot leave them there and go to the market to buy chicken. Eat some, but don’t consume everything. See it as a business and as seed that can help you expand your poultry enterprise. In any case, what are birds raised for? Are they clocks to be fixed on the wall for people to look at?” Mr Opoku said on Joy FM.

He added that beneficiaries must see the birds as an investment opportunity that can grow into a sustainable poultry business rather than a one-time benefit.

The minister’s comments form part of government’s broader strategy under the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative to boost local poultry production, encourage the consumption of locally produced chicken, strengthen the poultry value chain and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products.

Prince Antwi

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