A policy document formulated to address the challenges confronting the Livestock sub-sector has been launched by the Hon. Minister for Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna.
The Ghana Livestock Development Policy and Strategy document which spans a period of 10 years from 2016 to 2025, seeks to address the myriad of issues affecting the development of the Ghana livestock sub-sector such as the excessive importation of livestock and livestock products especially poultry, increased incidence of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases, inadequate supply of vaccines and veterinary pharmaceuticals, inadequate livestock infrastructure, transhumance, financing , research and technology dissemination in the livestock industry, among others.
This was contained in an address read on his behalf by Mr Benjamin Gyasi, the Director of Finance and Administration of MoFA during the launch of the policy document at the MoFA Resource Center of MoFA in Accra on the 9th of November 2016.
The Hon. Minister indicated that the livestock subsector has the greatest potential to create jobs for women and youth, increase incomes of farmers and improve food and nutritional security of the nation as well as boost national and international trade.
He noted that despite the apparent downplay of the livestock sub-sector, it contributed on average eight percent (8%) of Agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2006 and 2011. T
he value and contributions of the livestock sub sector was even under estimated considering the numerous aspects of livestock products and the non- monetary value of livestock such as eggs, meat from unofficial slaughter, the use of draught animal power, manure and recreation which were not taken into account in the computation of the GDP.
He stated that the preparation of the policy document, which is a revision of a previous one, started in 2013 with inputs from major stakeholders in the livestock industry in the country and is consistent with the Comprehensive African Agriculture African Development Program (CAADP) and the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa developed by the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources that was adopted by Ministers of livestock in Africa in November 2014.
The Hon. Minister also echoed the desire of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama who stated during an interview while attending the UN meeting in September 2016, that Ghanaian poultry farmers should work to increase productivity to stem the over USD 200 million the country spends on import of frozen chicken.
He stated that while the Government creates the enabling environment, the stakeholders should intensify their effort and expand their enterprises in a bid to reduce the huge imports of frozen chicken.
The Minister urged stakeholders to take advantage of the 40% space created for local poultry products to be purchased by off-takers in the poultry industry as entrenched by the policy.
The Hon. Minister also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Development Partners especially the FAO, AU-IBAR, GIZ, USAID and USDA AfricaLead for their support towards the preparation of the policy document.
MoFA