Constraints to chicken production and marketing in Agona west district of the central region, Ghana

Abstract

The poultry industry is perceived to be a major contributor to Ghana’s development, through employment creation and enhancement of nutrition and food security. In spite of these contributions, the industry is not making much headway in certain parts of the country. This study was therefore aimed at examining the constraints to chicken production and marketing in Agona West District of the Central Region of Ghana. In the study, 33 chicken farmers, 120 marketers (cold store operators) and 250 chicken consumers were purposively selected and administered with content validated questionnaires. Data from the study were analysed descriptively and presented in tables. The study revealed that chicken production is a male dominated business, whilst marketing was dominated by females. Majority of chicken consumers preferred imported chicken to locally produced ones, because to them, imported chicken is less expensive, available in primal cuts and commonly available in local cold stores, compared with the locally-produced. The farmers complained about the inadequacy of local hatcheries to supply day-old chicks, chicken processing firms to process and store locally-produced chickens when demand is low, and high interest rates and the accompanying difficulties associated with accessing loans for expansion. Majority of the marketers reported incidences of product deterioration, resulting from unreliable power supply to their facilities. In addition, inadequate funds to procure refrigerated vans for conveying products from points of purchase to sales points, was a common obstacle to majority of chicken marketers. Occasional disease outbreaks, such as Avian influenza in the country, which adversely affect product patronage during such periods, was also identified as a constraint to product marketing. It is recommended that farmers, as well as entrepreneurs who are in a position to do so, should establish chicken processing facilities to process and store locally-produced chicken to increase its availability and patronage