Poultry Farmers Blame Egg Glut on Imports, Urge Government Action
The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA) has attributed the persistent egg glut in Ghana largely to the importation of poultry products, particularly from China, a situation the association says is also contributing to high egg prices at the retail level.
Speaking to the media, Management Committee Chairman of GAPFA, Mr. Kwame Ntim Duodu, said the continuous influx of imported poultry products has distorted the local market, reduced demand for eggs produced by Ghanaian farmers, and undermined the growth of the domestic poultry industry.
According to him, the development has left many local poultry farmers struggling with excess egg supply, declining sales, and rising operational costs, threatening the sustainability of their businesses.
“The number one challenge, and the major one, is that we have allowed the importation of poultry from outside Ghana. Chinese individuals are taking over the local market with imported products, and this is creating a lot of challenges for local poultry farmers,” Mr. Duodu said.
He explained that while farmers are often compelled to sell eggs at reduced prices to minimise losses, retailers frequently maintain high prices on the market, creating a disconnect between producers and consumers.
“Another cause of the egg glut in the system is that most retailers overprice eggs, which discourages consumers from purchasing,” he noted.
Mr. Duodu therefore appealed to the government to urgently intervene by enforcing stricter controls on poultry imports and introducing measures to reduce production costs for local farmers, making their products more competitive.
“I believe that if the government is bold enough to take a firm decision on poultry importation, the issue of egg glut can be addressed. Ghanaian poultry farmers are more than capable of producing enough to meet local demand,” he stressed.
