The roadmap for a training program that sets the stage for the nationwide rollout of the ambitious young poultry and livestock farmers initiative, under the Feed Ghana flagship program, has been launched.
The initiative, a public-private partnership (PPP), seeks to target 20,000 Ghanaian youth, mostly women, farmer groups, and agripreneurs, over a four-year period, with phase I targeting 10,000 between 2025 and the end of 2026.
The program is expected to create about 1.7 million direct and indirect jobs. The roadmap outlines regional training in two sessions every month across the 16 regions of the country, with a blended learning module that combines digital platforms, field demonstrations, and one-on-one mentorship.
The training will be delivered in local languages spoken and understood by the participating public in each region.
Launching the roadmap in Accra on June 10, 2025, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Presidency, said the country’s poultry and livestock industry was at a crossroads and could only be revitalized through the module to achieve food sovereignty and job creation.
“Agriculture is no longer just about hoes and cutlasses. It has transformed into a business that requires innovation, focusing on productivity and modern application of technical and digital tools,” he noted.
Dr. Otokunor emphasized that President Mahama is poised to roll out a series of ambitious programs through his office that target young people under the Feed Ghana flagship program.
He hopes that these programs will eliminate the structural barriers limiting the full participation of women and young people in agriculture, agribusiness, and its value chain.
The subsequent rollout of the young poultry and livestock farmers module will target 55,000 households to produce improved broiler breeds of about one million.
The government also plans to establish and upgrade some feedmills to produce cheaper feeds for farmers.
“With strong partnerships and political will, Ghana’s livestock and poultry sector will rise again,” Dr. Otokunor declared.
Dr. Doris Yaa Osei, Ag. Deputy Director, CSIR-Animal Research Institute, highlighted the difficulties the country faces in meeting its growing meat demand.
She emphasized that the Grains and Legumes Development Project being pursued by the government under the Feed Ghana flagship program is a key intervention initiative that would scale up the production of maize, rice, soybean, and sorghum to enhance the provision of feed for poultry, pigs, and micro-livestock.
The Chief Executive Officer of Feedico Ghana Limited, Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, highlighted the importance of the roadmap leading to the rollout of the module, which is projected to revolutionize smallholding farming in the country.
“Through the program, the government is aiming to certify and empower over 10,000 Ghanaian youth to become skilled and business-oriented in the poultry and livestock industry,” he noted.
The program is designed to support several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 2, 8, 12, 13, and 7. The use of local languages to impart knowledge to the beneficiary youth is a unique aspect of the training program.
“Knowledge must not be blocked in translation. It must reach the people who need it most in the language they understand,” Chief Nsarko emphasized.
The roadmap was jointly developed by the Animal Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-ARI), Feedico Company Limited,
Presidential Initiatives, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government, and other government agencies.
It addresses two of Ghana’s most urgent challenges: low sufficiency in poultry and livestock production and high youth unemployment rates, especially in rural areas where agriculture remains underutilized due to lack of training, mentorship, and financial access.
