Poultry Industry Must Be Saved From Collapsing - CADA Tells Government

John Bewuah Edusei, vice president of the Confederation for the Development of Poultry in Africa (CADA), advised Ghanaian leaders to cease playing games and engaging in partisan politics with the country's agricultural sector.

He asserted that Ghana will be compelled to endure starvation and famine if his advice is ignored.

Mr. Bewuah Edusei was alarmed, citing the United Nations Population Division's projections for 2022, that a great catastrophe awaits the country if the leadership does not take some pragmatic steps in domesticating agricultural products.

"The time has come to organize. Either we begin planning for the year 2050 immediately and cease playing games and engaging in politics, or we must be prepared to face the consequences of our actions tomorrow.

Nobody knows when the next global disaster will occur; consequently, we must ensure food security before it is too late. "If arid Morocco and Burkina Faso can produce enough food to meet their needs, Ghana must improve its maize and chicken production," he warned.

Mr. Bewuah Adusei addressed the press in Kumasi with these remarks.

CADA's mission is to promote the poultry industry in Africa through strategic programs that educate and safeguard the interests of African poultry players.

It also endeavors to promote and advance contemporary poultry farming.

The UN Population Division projects that the world's population will reach 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.2 billion in 2100, based on current demographic trends.

The preponderance of this population growth will take place in Africa.

According to him, Ghana will have to do more to sustain its population, as the forecast places a premium on protein derived from animals, especially poultry products.

"Poultry will need to play a significant role in the future. But where are the poultry plantations of today? We must have a plan for the sustainable and methodical expansion of poultry. "As we speak, all of our major layer farms have closed, and our broiler production is less than 2% of national demand," he bemoaned.

The Vice President of the CADA disclosed that the capacity of some farms has decreased from 800,000 to less than 20,000 birds, which he characterized as alarming, but "the worst part is the exceptionally high job losses."

"He noted that the high cost of maize was the primary cause of the devastation in the poultry industry. In 2016, a 50-kilogram container of maize cost forty Ghanaian cedis. Today, the price of the same quantity of corn has skyrocketed to GH280, compelling poultry producers to cease operations," explained Mr. Bewuah.

According to him, exportation of the product, which generates shortages and consequently high prices, is a major factor in the high price of maize.

Mr. Bewuah Edusei also lamented that Ghana's chicken imports have nearly doubled since 2018's $375 million, noting that the government has failed to curb the high importation figures, resulting in widespread job losses.