The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association is projecting at least a 15 percent increase in poultry prices ahead of the Christmas festivities, citing rising costs of animal feed and imported production inputs.
Chief Executive of the Association, Mohammed Ali, said the increasing cost of maize, soya and other feed ingredients, coupled with higher freight charges, is putting pressure on poultry production costs.
Speaking to Joy Business during an outreach to schools in Dansoman to mark World Egg Day, he said consumers should expect some price adjustments by Christmas.
“Maybe not less than 15 percent, we must see some price change,” he said.
Mr Ali explained that most of the ingredients used in poultry feed are imported, leaving local farmers exposed to international price movements and rising transportation costs.
He called on government to address the high cost of feed inputs by supporting increased local production of maize and soya.
“When we are able to have an abundance locally, the feed price will surely come down. But without them, we can’t do anything about poultry feed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the association is calling for stronger measures to address price disparities between poultry farmers and retailers, particularly in the egg market.
Mr Ali said the difference between farm-gate prices and what consumers pay at retail outlets is excessive, with some traders allegedly adding as much as GH¢20 to the price of a crate.
He disclosed that farm-gate prices currently range between GH¢40 and GH¢45, arguing that retail prices should not exceed GH¢50.
“We don’t expect an egg to go beyond 50 cedis. Take or leave,” he stressed.
He also called for the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness to introduce measures to bring discipline into the market and address practices that prevent traders from selling eggs at lower prices.
On the Association’s World Egg Day activities, Mr Ali said it had reached five clusters of schools in the Dansoman enclave to educate pupils on the nutritional benefits of eggs.
He said the initiative was aimed at encouraging children to make egg consumption part of their daily meals.
“Eggs have some special protein content for every child from zero to say eight that they need. And we want to inculcate this habit into their meals, for daily meals, consumption of egg,” he said.
According to him, the association distributed more than 100,000 eggs to schools as part of the exercise, adding that early education would help children develop healthy eating habits.
Mr Ali also urged the association to extend the Nkokor Nkitinkiti initiative to improve its implementation and deliver greater benefits to local poultry farmers, whose production volumes have a greater impact on market supply and prices.
He said targeting larger-scale farmers with support could produce more significant changes in the poultry market.
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