Ghanaians asked to fill meat supply gap
Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, has called on players in the animal industry to do more to fill the meat supply gap in the country to create jobs and improve incomes.
He made the call during the 33rd Biennial Symposium of the Ghana Animal Science Association (GASA) in Tamale, on the theme: “Climate Smart Animal Husbandry Systems: Key to Improving Animal Production.”
The three-day event attended by members of GASA and sister associations from Nigeria including farmers, was to deliberate on issues about the sector and ways to improve them.
Prof Teye expressed dissatisfaction that meat and other farm produce such as tomato, are being imported from neighbouring countries.
He, therefore, called on the authorities to come out with measures to improve the capacity of local industry players to produce more to meet the country’s demand.
Statistics from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture show that livestock accounts for only seven per cent of agricultural Gross Domestic Product, leaving a lot of room for growth.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru Limuna, Minister of Food and Agriculture, whose speech was read on his behalf, expressed the need for farmers to develop their animals to ensure high birth per litter, short birth intervals, low mortality rates, fast growth, high final body weight, low incidence of disease, good quality products for increased revenue.
Alhaji Limuna also expressed need to develop the livestock value chain to ensure that a number of products come from one animal spicie as well high level of processing, storage and trade; involvement of several seemingly unrelated industries in the value chain such as input/output/service providers and consumers to improve income.
Mr Abdallah Abubakari, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, appealed to farmers to belong to associations to effectively deal with challenges associated with the industry.
Mr Abdallah said “Farmers should also try as much as possible to integrate livestock production with crop production to increase their income all year round”.
He advised farmers to learn to operate along the value chain principles by consciously fostering economic and technical links with agencies and people for their benefit.
Source: GNA