President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a landmark national program aimed at revitalizing Ghana’s poultry sector and boosting household food security. The initiative, dubbed the “Nkoko Nkitikiti Household and Backyard Poultry Production Initiative,” was launched in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, a city hailed by officials as the “birthplace of enterprise and innovation.”
In his address, President Mahama said the program represents more than a government policy — it is a national movement for food self-sufficiency, household resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
“We must, and we will, reverse our overdependence on imported poultry. This is about reclaiming our pride as a nation that produces, processes, and consumes what it grows,” the President declared.
The Nkoko Nkitikiti Initiative is part of the Poultry Industry Revitalization Program, under the Feed Ghana Program and the National Plan for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security, and Shared Prosperity.
For years, Ghana’s poultry sector has battled challenges such as high feed costs, limited access to quality breeds, and inadequate processing facilities. In 2023, the country spent over $350 million on poultry imports — a trend government says must be reversed.
To address this, the government is implementing a three-pronged strategy under the Feed Ghana Program:
Poultry Farm to Table Project
Anchor Farmers Scheme
Ag Grower Support Scheme
Under the new initiative, 50 Anchor Farmers across Ghana will each receive 80,000 birds, housing, logistics, and technical support — producing an estimated 4 million birds annually. Additionally, the Food Systems Resilience Program will support 500 small and medium-scale farmers to produce 3 million birds, bridging the gap between commercial and community-level production.
The first phase of Nkoko Nkitikiti will see 3 million birds distributed nationwide, with 10,000 birds per constituency — directly benefiting around 60,000 households. Each beneficiary household will receive 50 birds, feed support, and training to ensure sustainable production.
President Mahama described the initiative as a “bold and inclusive step” toward national food security and economic empowerment:
“The Nkoko Nkitikiti program brings poultry production to every doorstep. It transforms subsistence into sustainable livelihoods for our people.”