Budget will revive poultry industry, say farmers

According to local farmers, the poultry sector has the potential to reduce poverty through wealth and employment creation, if all aspects of the budget relating to the industry were implemented.

Mr Tony Osei Mensah, chairman of the Regional branch of the National Poultry Farmers Association, provided this positive outlook in response to the recent budget statement presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu.

The chairman said it was commendable for the government to promote the use of locally produced poultry products by all public institutions, schools and the security agencies adding that this would go a long way to conserve foreign exchange.

Mr Mensah also welcomed the idea of encouraging closer collaboration between the Association and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to enhance effective implementation of measures to revamp the poultry industry.

Mr Mensah said that the original scare prompted by bird flu had died down, and that the industry was picking up steadily. He recommended that farmers take advantage of available financing support to improve production to meet demands.