Expanded Overview of the Launch and the Nkoko Nketenkete Policy
At a landmark event in Techiman, Bono East Region, former President John Mahama officially launched the Feed Ghana Programme—a comprehensive initiative designed to overhaul Ghana’s agricultural landscape. The launch not only showcased the government’s commitment to ending the reliance on nearly $400 million in annual chicken imports but also emphasized the importance of boosting local production through innovative policies and infrastructure investments.
Illuminating the Launch Event
During the launch, President Mahama underscored the critical need for a self-sustaining agricultural sector that could meet local demand while driving national growth. The event was marked by the presentation of agricultural inputs, including maize seeds, fertilizers, tractors, and even a Kia truck, to key institutions such as the Ghana Prisons Service and the National Service Authority. These contributions symbolize the practical steps the government is taking to empower local farmers and catalyze the production of essential foodstuffs.
A central theme at the launch was the emphasis on modernizing farming practices. The Feed Ghana Programme is structured around several critical components:
• Smart Agriculture and Farmer Support:
Nationwide farmers’ service centres will provide vital services such as mechanization, quality inputs, financial assistance, and training to help farmers adopt modern techniques. This move is expected to revitalize small-scale farming and stimulate agro-industrial growth.
• Rural Infrastructure Development:
With planned investments in irrigation, road networks, power supply, and warehousing, the programme aims to create robust agro-production enclaves that attract private investment and spur sustained economic development.
• Grains, Legumes, and Vegetable Development:
A dedicated focus on scaling up the production of maize, rice, soya beans, sorghum, and vegetables will not only satisfy domestic consumption but also pave the way for agro-processing and export opportunities.
Inculcating the Nkoko Nketenkete Policy
A highlight of the event was the introduction of the Nkoko Nketenkete policy—a groundbreaking project within the Feed Ghana Programme specifically targeting the revitalization of the poultry sector. Derived from the local term for chicken, this policy seeks to transform the traditional poultry industry by:
• Empowering Local Producers:
The policy aims to support 54 selected entrepreneurs to establish scalable poultry farms capable of producing four million birds, which will yield approximately 10,000 metric tons of chicken annually. By doing so, it aspires to dramatically reduce the heavy import bill while ensuring that locally produced chicken meets national demand.
• Modernization and Best Practices:
Emphasizing the adoption of modern farming techniques, the Nkoko Nketenkete policy will encourage the use of improved breeding, enhanced biosecurity measures, and state-of-the-art processing methods. This modernization is expected to raise production standards and ensure food safety.
• Economic and Social Impact:
Beyond boosting national self-sufficiency, revitalizing the poultry sector will create jobs, develop rural areas, and serve as a model for similar initiatives in other segments of the agriculture value chain. The Nkoko Nketenkete project represents an integrated approach, combining financial support, technical training, and infrastructure development to empower local agri-entrepreneurs.
