Ghana’s poultry sector struggles as high feed costs pressure farmers

GHANA – Ghana’s poultry industry continues to face challenges despite the rising demand for chicken meat in the country, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku.

Speaking before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, Opoku said the sector, which has significant potential, cannot afford to remain in crisis.

Ghana is the second-largest consumer of chicken in West Africa after Nigeria, with annual consumption exceeding 300,000 metric tons, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This figure is six times higher than the total consumption in Côte d’Ivoire.

Each Ghanaian consumes an average of 13 kilograms of chicken per year, more than double the amount recorded in Senegal. However, despite this demand, the country struggles to meet its local production needs.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Ghana’s poultry industry supplied up to 80% of the domestic market. Today, it accounts for only a fraction of the demand.

Data from the USDA shows that Ghana produced just 60,000 metric tons of chicken meat in 2023, covering only 18% of total consumption.

Most of the local supply comes from spent laying hens, which contribute over 90%, while broiler production accounts for less than 5%, a supply pattern that differs from neighboring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.

The high cost of poultry feed has been a major hurdle for farmers, making broiler production increasingly expensive.

Raw materials such as maize and soybean meal saw significant price hikes in 2024, following a severe drought in northern Ghana that reduced agricultural yields.

Maize production dropped by 35%, according to the Ghana Grains Council, leading to increased grain prices and added pressure on feed manufacturers.

Eric Manteaw, executive secretary of the Association of Feed Millers of Ghana, stated last September that maize accounts for 50% to 55% of poultry feed, while soybeans make up about 30%. The price of a 50-kilogram bag of maize rose from US$16 in January to US$29.

Poultry feed prices have been rising for nearly five years, affecting both small-scale farmers and large-scale feed producers.

USDA data shows that the cost of a 50-kilogram bag of maize has increased fivefold since 2019, reaching US$18 in 2023. The prices of starter, finishing feed, and soybean meal have also more than tripled.

Ghana remains heavily dependent on poultry imports, which make up more than 80% of the country’s total chicken supply.

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