Abstract

John Eden Butler

The poultry industry is known to be a major contributor to Ghana’s economy through employment creation and the enhancement of nutrition and food security. In spite of these contributions, the poultry industry is faced with a number of problems that necessitate solution. The study was conducted in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana, with the prospects and challenges of the local poultry industry as its main objective. Ten poultry farmers were engaged as research participants using both structured and semi-structured interviews. Interactions with the poultry farmers in the municipality revealed that, poultry and its products provide some acceptable form of protein to humans to combat mal-nutrition, create employment and also give income to these farmers. Marketing of eggs does not present any problem at all with cash flow to farmers during egg collection. There is also abundant labor and land for poultry farming. The study showed that apart from the poultry farms, farmers also engage in crop cultivation as well as livestock rearing like goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, domestic fowls and ducks. All the farmers provided a well-ventilated house for housing their poultry birds (intensive system). The main management practices carried out by the farmers are; the provision of feed, security, water, regular replacement of litters and vaccination against diseases. Problems encountered by the farmers include inadequate capital, expensive feed and equipment, incidence of diseases and poor weather conditions. Other constraints of the industry in the municipality include; expensive vaccine, expensive veterinary services, management of sick birds, low patronage of live birds due to few restaurants and hotels in the municipality. The study concludes that, government should implement more stringent measures so as to protect the local poultry industry from dying and also support poultry farmers through subsidies.