The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ghana, in conjunction with the Department of Animal Science, has held a two-day training seminar for selected poultry farmers on flock management, disease control, and related areas, in anticipation of the nationwide rollout of the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” policy.
The development follows the official launch of the flagship policy by the Mahama-led government, which is aimed at reducing the importation of frozen chicken for domestic consumption.
Speaking on Day One of the event, the Head of the Department of Animal Science, Reverend Professor Richard Amponsah, who spoke on behalf of the Dean, stated that the primary objective of the training was to equip farmers with best biosafety practices to prevent disease outbreaks on farms and reduce public health risks for all stakeholders.
“The School of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with our private partner, decided to organise this hands-on training seminar for both practising poultry farmers and those yet to enter the sector, to equip them with best practices and know-how in poultry management in order to achieve maximum returns for all stakeholders. The poultry value chain encompasses proper stocking, disease management, feeding, housing, among other critical parameters.”
Also speaking, a Senior Lecturer and Co-Facilitator, Dr Raphael Ayimzanga, noted that poultry management is both a science and an art. He emphasised that attention to detail, appropriate technology, and a well-trained human resource with practical knowledge of industry processes and practices are critical skills required to run a profitable and well-coordinated poultry management system.
“Poultry management is becoming increasingly scientific and technology-driven in today’s world, where quality and standards are a sine qua non for businesses to thrive and create sustainable impact for all stakeholders over time. The various aspects of the process—breeding, housing, feeding, disease control, and management—are all anchored on strong quality and biosafety controls, particularly for enterprises seeking to scale to higher commercial levels and access global supply chains.”
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
