Each constituency set to receive 10,000 nkoko nkitinkiti

The government is preparing to roll out the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project, a large-scale poultry initiative aimed at boosting local production and reducing reliance on imported chicken.

Announcing the programme, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku said three million birds will be distributed nationwide, with every constituency set to receive 10,000 fowls.

He described the project as a major step in advancing food security, creating jobs, and supporting household livelihoods.

“This project will empower farmers across all constituencies with resources to expand poultry production and earn sustainable incomes,” Mr. Opoku said.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme has been designed to address long-standing challenges in Ghana’s poultry sector, which has struggled with high production costs, inadequate feed supply, and competition from cheaper imports.

The Agric Ministry believes that distributing birds directly to communities, coupled with technical support, will help strengthen local capacity.

In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, the then-opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) pledged to initiate an agriculture-centered policy designed to strengthen the poultry industry by distributing three million birds nationwide.

The initiative, dubbed Nkoko Nkitinkiti, aims to boost local poultry production, improve food security, create jobs, and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported chicken.

Under the plan, the government intends to procure 3 million birds. The minister insists that the cost of the birds will not exceed GHC200 million.

This is one of several initiatives the Mahama administration is rolling out to make Ghana self-sufficient in the area of food production.

Meanwhile, the Agric Minister has encouraged Ghanaians to patronize local goods and services in order that the government’s plans can be supported.

The Minister had earlier assured poultry farmers and stakeholders that all necessary preparations were nearly complete. “The media will be invited, after which distribution will begin across various constituencies to reach beneficiary farmers. We are finalizing the beneficiary list and completing procurement processes with contractors to supply the birds. Very soon, implementation will take off,” Eric Opoku stated.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme is expected to benefit no fewer than 55,000 households nationwide. It is also designed to create significant job opportunities for the youth, while at the same time addressing the pressing issue of food security. “This project is not just about poultry farming,” the Minister emphasized. “It is about creating sustainable jobs, empowering rural households, and retaining millions of dollars that currently leave our economy through imports.”

In addition to the jobs and household benefits, the programme is projected to save the country more than $300 million each year in poultry import costs. With implementation expected to begin shortly after the official launch, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Programme is being positioned as a long-term intervention to make Ghana self-sufficient in poultry production while boosting livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.