FSRP to roll out 2m broilers project

–Driven by ECOWAS with World Bank funding

By Elvis DARKO, Accra

The West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) is poised to produce two million broilers this year to reduce the import of poultry, with the success of the initial year determining the project’s scaling.

Project implementers are finalizing the review of submissions received, and successful poultry farmers will soon receive support to enhance production.

The project, encompassing crops as well, is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with funding from World Bank.

The implementation is being done under the auspices of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and funded by the World Bank.

Ghana is 15% self-sufficient in poultry meat

Providing an overview of the project, Mr. Philip Daniel Laryea, Operations Manager of FSRP indicated that Ghana is only about 15% self-sufficient in poultry meat.

He highlighted that local production is dominated by layers due to presence of a substantial egg market, with spent layers also being sold.

However, broilers, ready within five to eight weeks, face challenges finding a market, due to combination of factors including stiff competition from imports.

Explaining the issue with broilers, he noted that without an off-taker by the eighth week, farmers face challenges as the birds eat heavily without added value in terms of sales price.

Anchor Farmers

Mr. Laryea revealed that the project’s support will be through large scale commercial farmers (Anchor Farmers) who, in turn, would work with smallholder farmers.

The project’s poultry model will encourage Anchor farmers to market processed whole birds or packaged cut chicken parts instead of selling live birds.

Supply of inputs

The project aims to support beneficiary farmers with day-old chicks, feed, and vaccines, covering a substantial amount of the production cost. 

Potential beneficiaries must demonstrate capacity to process and market the birds to qualify for support.

FSRP has identified farmers with processing equipment, some of which are under-utilised due to inadequate supply of local birds.

Market availability

Mr. Laryea expressed hope that increased broiler production would lead to market availability.

Applicants demonstrating processing capacity may also apply for a assistance to expand or establish mechanized processing facilities under the FSRP’s Matching Grant Scheme.

The project will help beneficiaries market their products by sponsoring advertisements, organizing trade shows, and exhibitions.

Each batch of beneficiaries will receive support for three years, with farmers repaying part of the support at the end of each year while retaining the remaining amount as a subsidy (percentages yet to be agreed upon) plus their profits.

Only farmers who have repaid the previous year’s support will receive assistance in the new year.

300,000 Ghanaians beneficiaries

Approximately 300,000 Ghanaians are expected to directly benefit from the project, with over one million estimated as indirect beneficiaries of the $150 million ECOWAS project.

The five-year project addresses common natural phenomena affecting food production in the sub-region, aiming to strengthen food system risk management in collaboration with ECOWAS and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

The FSRP will implement a combination of adaptive, innovative, and sustainable interventions to bolster the resilience of vulnerable households, families, farmers, and communities against uncertainty and shocks in food production and supply in the sub-region.