By; Ama Joycelyn Tseyiboe
President John Dramani Mahama has launched a major national program aimed at revitalizing the country’s poultry industry and enhancing household food security which was held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Kumasi . The initiative, known as the Nkoko Nkitikiti Household and Backyard Poultry Production Initiative, was officially launched in Kumasi, described by officials as the birthplace of enterprise and innovation.
Speaking at the launch, the president emphasized that the initiative goes beyond being a mere government intervention , “it is a national movement to restore food self-sufficiency, strengthen household resilience, and create sustainable livelihoods for thousands of Ghanaians, especially women, youth, and vulnerable families” he said.
The Nkoko nkitikiti Initiative forms part of the government’s broader Poultry Industry Revitalization Program, a flagship component under the Feed Ghana Program and the National Plan for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security, and Shared Prosperity.
For years, Ghana’s poultry sector has faced several challenges, including high feed costs, limited access to improved breeds, inadequate processing facilities, and heavy dependence on imports. In 2023 alone, Ghana spent over $350 million importing poultry products , a situation government says is unsustainable.
“We must, and we will, reverse this trend. The time has come for Ghana to reclaim the pride of producing, processing, and consuming what we ourselves grow,” the president said.
Under the Feed Ghana Program, government is implementing a three-pronged strategy to rebuild the poultry value chain from household to commercial scale. These include the Poultry Farm to Table Project, Anchor Farmers, and the Ag Grower Support Scheme.
As part of this approach, 50 Anchor Farmers have been selected across the country, each expected to receive 80,000 birds, housing, logistics, and technical support. Together, these Anchor Farmers will produce an estimated 4 million birds, boosting local feed demand and linking producers directly to processors, he added.
Additionally, through the Food Systems Resilience Program, government is supporting 500 small and medium-scale poultry farmers nationwide to produce 3 million birds, bridging the gap between large-scale and community-level producers.
In the first phase of implementation, government will distribute 3 million birds across all 276 constituencies, with each constituency receiving 10,000 birds. This phase will benefit approximately 60,000 households nationwide, with each household receiving 50 birds, feed support, and technical training to ensure sustainability.
The president described the Nkoko nkitikiti program as a bold and inclusive step toward achieving national food security, empowering families, and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry.
“This initiative brings poultry production to the doorsteps of every Ghanaian. It transforms subsistence into self-sustaining livelihoods,” he said.
