The growth of the domestic poultry (broiler) industry continues to be slow. The supply of broilers in 2011/2012 is about 10 percent of the total market demand according to Government of Ghana (GOG) and industry sources. According to industry sources, only 10,000 MT of broiler chickens (meat) and 12,400MT of spent layers (meat) are supplied by domestic poultry producers. This is due primarily to the high cost of production (feed, drugs), inefficient production methods, limited knowledge of modern poultry management, and lack of processing facilities. Other constraints include the high energy prices which continue to increase production costs by over 60 percent. The price of domestic broiler meat on the domestic market is thus not competitive. Imported poultry products tend to be 30-40 percent cheaper than locally produced chicken. However the GOG has continued to support the local poultry industry by removing customs duties on poultry inputs (feed, additives, drugs and vaccines) and facilitating improved access to veterinary services.
In the last few years, the production of layer chickens for table eggs has been growing fast and more profitably with relatively no competition. This has resulted in a major producer shift from broiler (meat) production towards the production of layer birds for table eggs. Over 90 percent of poultry farmers are currently raising layer birds for eggs. The estimated poultry layer count increased by 10 percent to stand at 23 million in 2012, up from 21 million birds in 2011. Broiler bird counts are over 5 million according to industry and GOG sources. In Ghana local processing of poultry into cut portions to facilitate quick and easy use by consumers is limited. In addition to producing chickens, other species such as turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks and ostriches are also produced on a smaller scale. Commercial poultry operations in Ghana are found mostly in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
Presently there are seven hatcheries in Ghana that produce day-old chicks for commercial production of broiler and layer birds (GOG sources). However most of the poultry hatcheries are only producing about 60 percent of capacity due to low demand. According to the industry, the demand for layer birds from hatcheries is over 80 percent of total capacity. Only three of these hatchery companies maintain their own parent stocks of layer or broiler birds. The other poultry producers import fertile eggs. The poultry industry does not have a law which will ensure the production of quality day-old chicks from domestichatcheries. Also the GOG has no law that ensures the importation of good quality and disease-free fertile eggs.
