The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has attributed the reported glut of eggs on the Ghanaian market to increased domestic poultry production under the government’s flagship Nkoko Nketenkete initiative.
According to the minister, the programme has contributed to a significant rise in local poultry production, resulting in an abundance of eggs and lower prices in some parts of the country.
Mr Opoku illustrated the situation by pointing to the growing availability of eggs on the streets, where traders are reportedly selling two eggs for GH¢5, sometimes offering pepper and onions at no additional cost.
“Everywhere you go in this country today, eggs are being sold two for five cedis. Two for five cedis. And even that, the sellers are pepper and they are onion free of charge, indicating the abundance of eggs in our country,” he said.
The minister made the remarks when he accompanied President John Dramani Mahama to inspect the Bechem Meat Processing Factory in the Ahafo Region.
The visit formed part of the government’s efforts to strengthen Ghana’s poultry industry, expand local production and establish a more integrated value chain for poultry farmers.
Mr Opoku said the abundance of eggs reflects the impact of the Nkoko Nketenkete programme, which seeks to boost domestic poultry production and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported poultry products.
Figures provided on the initiative indicate that domestic poultry production increased from 4.6 per cent to 22 per cent as of May 2026.
The reported increase represents a significant expansion in local production, although the figures do not, on their own, establish the programme’s precise contribution to the current egg supply situation.
The minister’s remarks highlight the government’s position that increased local production is beginning to translate into greater availability of poultry products on the domestic market.
However, the reported glut also raises questions about the capacity of existing markets to absorb the growing supply and whether poultry farmers are receiving prices that adequately cover their production costs.
The Bechem Meat Processing Factory is expected to commence operations by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
When fully operational, the facility is expected to process 6,000 birds per hour through two production lines dedicated to broilers and layers.
The factory is expected to play an important role in supporting the government’s poultry development agenda by providing processing capacity for locally raised birds and helping to strengthen links between poultry farmers and commercial markets.
The project also includes an accompanying feed mill, which is expected to support poultry production by improving access to feed, a major component of the cost of raising birds.
Together, the processing facility and feed mill are intended to strengthen different stages of the poultry value chain, from production and feeding to processing and marketing.
The reported abundance of eggs presents both an opportunity and a potential challenge for Ghana’s poultry industry.
While increased supply can improve availability and make eggs more affordable for consumers, a sustained glut without adequate market access could put pressure on farm-gate prices and affect the profitability of poultry businesses.
The development of processing infrastructure is therefore expected to complement efforts to increase production by creating additional market opportunities for farmers.
For the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative to deliver lasting benefits, poultry farmers will need reliable markets, competitive production costs and efficient distribution systems to ensure that increased output translates into sustainable incomes.
The Bechem facility is expected to contribute to these objectives when operations begin in 2027.
The government has positioned the poultry initiative and related infrastructure projects as part of its broader strategy to expand domestic agricultural production, strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imported poultry products.
By 1960news.com
