Government Introduces ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’ Policy to Revive Poultry Industry

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has shed light on the dire state of Ghana’s poultry industry, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention. Speaking on JoyNews’ Roundtable on March 12, he highlighted the newly introduced ‘Nkukor Nkitinkiti’ policy as a key initiative aimed at revitalizing the sector and strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain.

The policy forms part of a broader economic transformation agenda, which includes several agricultural programs designed to enhance food production and sustainability. “It is part of a programme that we call the agriculture or economic transformation agenda, which involves a lot of activities aimed at boosting agriculture,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.

As part of this agenda, the government has rolled out various initiatives, including the Feed Ghana programme, the Ghana Grains Development Project, and the Vegetable Development Project, in addition to the Nkukor Nkitinkiti Poultry Farm to Table project.

Kwakye Ofosu painted a grim picture of the poultry sector’s decline, warning that immediate action is required. “Incidentally, as we speak, the poultry industry has collapsed,” he remarked.

He further explained that the Nkukor Nkitinkiti initiative goes beyond simply distributing chicks to farmers. “It is not just about having chicks given to you to go and raise to build a poultry farm on your own. We are going to help farmers who grow vegetables, grains, soya beans, rice, yams, cassava, and more. It is a comprehensive, structured programme designed to support multiple agricultural activities,” he clarified.

To fund the initiative, the government has allocated ¢1.5 billion Ghana cedis. While some critics question whether this amount is sufficient, Kwakye Ofosu remains optimistic that the policy will encourage private sector participation. “Eventually, those who initially benefit will expand their capital to reinvest, and others with resources but uncertainty about where to invest will also come in because poultry is a lucrative venture,” he noted.

He stressed that agriculture remains a fundamental tool for addressing unemployment, which continues to be a pressing national concern. “We believe agriculture is one of the ways we can create jobs, especially in a situation where unemployment remains one of the biggest national problems,” he stated.

The Nkukor Nkitinkiti policy is a strategic move by the government to rejuvenate the poultry industry, boost agricultural production, create sustainable jobs, and enhance food security—paving the way for economic self-sufficiency.