For the first time in a long while, availability rather than cost, risks denying some households access to chicken and other poultry proteins during the Yuletide celebrations.
It follows a historic delay in poultry imports into the country from key markets such as the United States of America (USA), Brazil and the European Union (EU), as a result of disruptions to the global container shipping industry.
If households do not have chicken products on hand to prepare delectable dishes for this year’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, they may be severely impacted. According to a study published by Graphic Business, cold shops are unable to stock up on chicken and other bird proteins in time for the holidays for the first time in a long time.
- Food Production in Ghana: Peasant Farmers get a boost
- Prof Millar calls on gov’t to encourage organic farming
Due to difficulties in the worldwide container shipping sector, chicken imports from the United States of America (USA), Brazil, and the European Union (EU) have been delayed in the nation.
According to CAG’s CEO, Anthony Morrison, Ghanaians are expected to see a price increase in frozen chicken and other imported items over the Christmas season owing to container delays on international sea.
Morrison anticipates that local poultry producers will seize the opportunity offered by the increased demand for frozen chicken. If the country wanted to industrialize, he encouraged the government to take the necessary actions to preserve domestic chicken industry from foreign competition.
The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) stated they were aware of the impending scarcity but lacked the resources to fill the void left by the delay. They said the time limit was too short for their members to save the situation, claiming that producing birds for eating took seven to eight weeks.
The group went on to say that majority of its members would be unable to satisfy the 40% demand for locally produced birds owing to the high cost of manufacturing.
