Locally produced frozen poultry products are expected to receive a boost as two companies, Rockland Farms, producers of Rockland Meat, and Labianca Company Ltd., an importer of frozen foods, have formed a partnership to offtake products from farmers.
Under the name Akoko Tasty, the two companies held a ceremony in Tema to announce the partnership.
Ghana heavily relies on the importation of poultry products as the industry has been struggling to develop due to many factors such as high cost of production, lack of access to soft loans and lack of subsidies from the state for poultry farmers to competing with cheap imported products.
Addressing this is said to require all stakeholders putting their shoulders to the wheel.
Chief Executive of Rockland Farms, Edith Akosah Wheatland in an interview said she is optimistic for the new development but cost of feed is impacting on pricing of the products.
“Rockland is doing something beneficial for the whole country. Currently, besides FDA [Food and Drugs Authority] and other institutions’ certification, we’re working with Agric Ministry to certify all farmers who want to join to ensure standardization”
“Continuous funding for production at a special rate could go a long way in maize and soya bean production needed to process the feed,” she added.
According to the company, it is currently producing about 700 boxes of 10 kilos of Akoko Tasty daily with a target to raise eight million birds per year.
Prior to this partnership, Rockland had the same marketing and financial limitations as other farms, but Labianca will take care of the marketing aspect.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Labianca Company Ltd, Eunice Jacqueline Asomah Hinneh while speaking at the ceremony urged the government to create enabling environment for local production of the poultry feed.
“Producing the feed is a challenge. If the situation remains same it will be impossible to compete with the importers. Two years ago, Labianca decided to venture into poultry by raising 20,000 birds. Sadly, we lost everything,” she narrated.
In order not to repeat this bitter experience, Labianca decided to produce its own feed.
“We’ve acquired land in the Bono region to produce maize. This is part of the plans to end importation of feed to help bring down the cost of the chicken. I’m happy Akoko Tasty has taken off as part of effort of being self-sufficient locally.”
“We want to support Edith Akosah by giving her the maize we’re currently producing to make her products competitive. Once the issue of feed is addressed leading to cheap prices, it will discourage importation,” Madam Eunice Jacqueline Asomah Hinneh added.
She appealed to all importers, banks, government agencies and other stakeholders to support this national goal to help reduce the importation of chicken leading to job creations locally.
“You will be amazed to know that the locally produced chicken tastes better, much fresh and lean compared to imported ones.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Agric Minister in charge of Livestock, Mohammed Hardi Turferu said government will continue to rollout programmes and policies to improve poultry subsector.
Source: Myjoyonline.
