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Some Poultry farmers in the Ashanti Region have sounded the alarm over the escalating costs of production, prompting an announced price hike for chicken and eggs ahead of the 2024 Christmas season. The surge in prices is primarily attributed to the skyrocketing costs of poultry feed, compounded by significant taxes on key feed ingredients.
Mr. Dickson Kwame Owusu, farm manager of DKO Farms located in the Sehwi community of the Bekwai Municipality, shared concerns that the dramatic increase in feed prices is putting immense financial strain on poultry farmers. “The sharp rise in the prices of key feed ingredients such as maize, wheat bran, and soya beans is making it nearly impossible for farmers to sustain their operations,” Mr. Owusu explained.
The soaring prices of essential poultry feed ingredients have already stretched farmers’ resources thin, while the added tax burden on imported feed components is further exacerbating the situation. These challenges are making it increasingly difficult for local poultry farmers to remain competitive, especially as imported poultry products, which are not subject to similar taxes, continue to flood the market at lower prices.
“The rising cost of feed is already crippling us, and the added taxes on imported ingredients make it harder to keep up with cheaper imported poultry products,” Mr. Owusu lamented. He called on the government to take immediate action to make critical feed ingredients more affordable and accessible. “We need the government to make ingredients like maize, wheat bran, and soya beans more affordable. If they can reduce or absorb the taxes on feed, it would significantly help us to lower our production costs.”
The situation has become so dire that many poultry farmers in the region are calling for urgent government intervention. They are asking for relief in the form of reduced taxes on imported feed ingredients, which would ease the financial burden and help local producers better compete in the market.
As the festive season approaches, the price hike for chicken and eggs is expected to impact both farmers and consumers, with poultry prices set to rise in response to increased production costs. The poultry sector, which provides livelihood to thousands of farmers and supports the local economy, could face a significant crisis if the government does not take swift action.
Poultry farmers in Ashanti Region are urging the government to act quickly to reduce the tax burden on feed ingredients and make poultry production more sustainable. Without immediate support, the future of local poultry production, along with the livelihoods of many farmers, could be at risk as consumer demand surges during the Christmas season.
The farmers’ appeal echoes the growing concerns of the agricultural sector, as rising costs continue to strain smallholder farmers. The outcome of these discussions could determine the future stability of the poultry industry in Ghana.
By Simon opoku Afryie
