'Government is Killing the Poultry Industry' - Mr. John Bewuah Edusei; PALS Africa CEO
PALS Africa is aimed at developing a poultry, aquaculture and livestock show of International standards and reputation, by Ghanaians for Africa with the whole world.
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The Chief Executive Officer of PALS (Poultry, Aquaculture and Livestock) Africa, Mr. John Bewuah Edusei has accused government for ‘killing’ the Poultry Industry after years of investment in the importation of frozen chicken instead of reviving the Local Poultry Production sector.
With the poultry and livestock industry contributing significantly to Ghana’s Agricultural production, the local poultry production is manufacturing only about one percent of the broiler chicken which according to the Chief Executive Officer, it is ‘woefully unacceptable’ assessing the rate at which qualified farmers in the industry who support to empower the Agricultural sector. He reflected on why government cannot revive the Local industry than to import 250,000 MT of frozen chickens, which costs the Nation more than $250million per year.
“It’s time for government to realise the need because if it’s true that government is importing chicken worth $370m and our currency is going down, then we don’t understand why government is not helping us. Because our businesses are constrained and dying and people are highly indebted, then we would have to find a way of solving our own problems,” he said at the PALS Exhibition Show in Kumasi.
The International Poultry, Aquaculture and Livestock Show of the Ghana Expo 2019 themed, ‘Enhancing the Agricultural Value Chain towards an Aid-free Ghana,” happened yesterday, November 4 at the Golden Tulip to provide a platform where indigenous industry players can share their experiences, knowledge, goods and services with international companies in their respective sectors as well as interact with amongst themselves.
Mr. Edusei condemned the Ghana Union of Traders Association’s (GUTA) act towards foreign Nationals and instead advised them to petition their complaints by means of demonstrations; an approach he see fit for farmers to win government’s attention in order not to hamper their association with the nation’s authorities.
“If we have to hit the street and demonstrate, I promise you that we will. We think that poultry can employ a lot of people. We think that it is time to eat healthy and quality meat in this country. What we are eating is not of good quality. They are chicken that have been stored for very long yet we can produce fresh chicken.
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“If government is serious and want to change the situation then immediately he should encourage us to start with a 10 percent production. I don’t understand why people are bringing in so much and they cannot talk with them to let us produce just part of what they are bringing in. They are killing an industry and we cannot sit down and allow our investment to go down the drain," he added.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of Poultry Farmers Association, Mr. Boris Baidoo of Boris ‘B’ farms also spoke that the PALS Exhibition is a unique platform uplifting the image of poultry production in an interactive exposition and vibrant social events.
He assured that Poultry Farms would maintain growth due to suitable decision made by government to sustain the Agricultural sector with the Planting for Food and Jobs disclosed as a benefit through feed subsidization for broiler production due to low maize price.
The Regional Chairman enlightened that Local producers have what it takes to increase poultry production in Ghana if the government would stick to his promise and support farmers.
“We have the capacity to rear the chicken but then, in every country just like it’s been done in Europe, there is some sort of support for the poultry industry.
“The Minister announcing of subsidies to support the poultry industry is something in the right direction and I believe that because they promised that they would bring the price of maize down and they’ve done it. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and see what they can do help the indigenous people of the country,” he said.
PALS Africa is a multi-species event comprising Poultry, Piggery, Fishery, Feed Milling, Livestock and other Agro allied Industries. The 2019 show is the third edition.
