M.J Asabil Farms CEO Calls on Government to Fix Manso Roads and Restore Incentives for Poultry Farmers

The Chief Executive Officer of M.J Asabil Farms, Mr. Moses Jackson Asabil, has passionately appealed to the government to fix the deplorable road networks in the Manso enclave and reintroduce critical incentives for poultry farmers to help sustain local agriculture and reduce youth unemployment in Ghana.

Addressing the media from his farm located at Manso-Akropong in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, Mr. Asabil urged the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, to prioritize the poultry sub-sector in the government’s investment agenda. According to him, poultry farming is a “very vibrant” sector with the potential to transform the economy, create thousands of jobs for young people, and significantly cut down the country’s dependence on imported frozen chicken.

“Poultry is not just about eggs and meat—it’s about livelihoods, food security, and economic empowerment. Government investment in this sector will help fight unemployment and promote national growth,” he emphasized.

M.J Asabil Farms, which was established in 2019, has become a trusted producer of high-quality poultry products including eggs, live broilers, chicken meat, and organic fertilizers. Despite its track record, the farm is grappling with serious challenges that Mr. Asabil believes are threatening the survival of poultry farming in the district.

One of the major issues he identified is the high cost of poultry feed, which now accounts for nearly 90 percent of the farm’s operational expenses. He recalled that previous government policies provided import discounts on poultry-related inputs such as feed, but these have since been scrapped.

“When those incentives were in place, farmers had some relief. Now, without support, the cost of feed alone is killing the business. That’s why so many poultry farms are folding up—it’s simply not profitable anymore,” he explained.

The Manso area, known for its agricultural potential, is also plagued by illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey. Mr. Asabil lamented the impact of these operations, which he said have led to a severe shortage of farm labour and destroyed available land for farming.

“Most of the youth have been pulled into galamsey. It’s very difficult to find people willing to work on farms anymore. On top of that, my farm is surrounded by mining pits—it’s built on reclaimed land, and we can’t even expand because there’s no safe land left,” he added.

Another major concern is the poor road network in and around Manso. Mr. Asabil noted that the bad state of the roads makes it extremely difficult to transport farm products to markets, as many drivers refuse to ply the route. This, he said, results in frequent losses and low patronage.

“The road is our biggest challenge. Eggs crack during transport, live birds suffer on the journey, and customers don’t want to make the trip. It’s affecting our business badly,” he stated.

He therefore appealed to the Minister for Roads and Highways to consider the Manso stretch in upcoming road construction budgets. He stressed that improved roads would not only benefit poultry farmers but also boost the entire local economy.

Mr. Asabil further called on the government to reduce the importation of frozen chicken into the country, which he said costs Ghana over USD 100 million annually. According to him, local poultry farmers are capable of meeting national demand if given the necessary tools and support.

“We don’t need to keep importing frozen chicken. We have the capacity, we have the skills, and we have the determination to produce locally. What we need is investment and policy support from the government,” he concluded.

Mr. Asabil’s appeal reflects the concerns of many rural farmers across the country who are calling for more responsive governance, infrastructure development, and agricultural policy reforms to help unlock the full potential of local farming for national development.