GHANA – The Pig Farmers Association of Ghana has objected to the government’s decision to import pork and pork products from the United States of America.
A few weeks ago, the republic of Ghana officially opened its markets to US exports of pork.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) received official correspondence from Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture acknowledging the receipt of the FSIS’ proposed certificate of exports of pork and confirming its acceptance.
Kwame Appiah Dankwah, the President of the Pig Farmers Association of Ghana is apprehensive of what the development would have on Ghana’s pork industry.
“The importation of pork products from the United States will cause the Ghanaian industry to collapse.
Several factories in ghana produce pork products. The importation of such products will deprive us of our jobs and livelihoods.” He said.
Ghana’s market of imported pork and pork products was valued at US$16 million in 2021 and has steadily increased from 2017.
The country is estimated to have imported a total of 15,000 metric tonnes in 2021, according to a report from the Global Agricultural Information Network.
“This is a terrible decision. It would aggravate the cedi’s depreciation. If the government wants us to produce more to meet demand, we should talk about it and figure out how to do it instead of importing,” said Kwame Dankwah.
Ghana’s market is currently dominated by the European Union and this recent opening of the market to US meat products creates an opportunity for the US to grow as a significant player in Ghana’s imports.
As for the domestic production of pig meat in Ghana, the production has gradually increased at a rate of 10.5% over the last 15 years in terms of both intensive or commercial production, and extensive or free-ranging animal production, according to a report from the NCIB.
The consumption demand however still exceeds the domestic supply by 20% on account of many challenges in the sector.
Some of these challenges include the recent outbreak of swine flu. Businesses in the sector found it difficult to bounce back after having to cull their infected animals as hundreds were affected.
Other obstacles in the local pork sector are high taxation, limited extension services and the high price of feed.
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