Nkoko Nkitinkiti introduced to cut poultry imports and boost local production – Demordzi

The National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, Bright Demordzi, says its Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme is a key import substitution intervention designed to increase domestic poultry production, create jobs and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported chicken.

As part of efforts to transform agriculture and strengthen food security, the initiative seeks to revive backyard poultry farming while providing support to small, medium and large-scale poultry producers.

Speaking during a Joy Business roundtable discussion on the topic “Can Ghana Feed Itself? The Future of Poultry Beyond Nkoko Nketenkete”, Mr Demordzi said Ghana’s poultry sector has significant potential to generate wealth and employment if adequately supported.

He explained that the decline of backyard poultry farming over the years has contributed to the country’s growing reliance on imported poultry products.

“Backyard farming has sustained this country for several years. Until recently, we were like that. But that component of our people in backyard farming has come down drastically,” he said.

According to, Mr Demordzi, Nkoko Nkitinkiti forms part of government’s broader strategy to replace imports with locally produced poultry by encouraging more households and farmers to venture into poultry production.

“This concept of total revitalisation is addressing some of the key challenges in the poultry sector. The first objective is to ignite interest in poultry farming and bring Ghanaians back into backyard poultry production so that we can increase output,” he said.

He added that increasing local production will help reduce the country’s expenditure on poultry imports.

“It is a form of import substitution programme that we are implementing now,”, Mr Demordzi said.

Millions of birds distributed under first phase

Mr Demordzi says implementation of the programme has begun with the distribution of birds to backyard farmers and vulnerable groups across the country.

He disclosed that about 2.5 million birds have been distributed to backyard groups in several regions, with thousands of families benefiting.

“We have distributed birds to backyard groups across the country. We have done 11 regions, and in eight regions we have distributed 10,000 birds in each region,” Mr Demordzi said.

The programme, according to government, has also supported vulnerable groups through targeted interventions, with about 4,000 families benefiting from designated support systems. ...