The Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor has hinted that the livestock sector is more than a source of meat, milk, or hides; it is the lifeblood of households, the foundation of rural livelihoods, and an anchor for national food security.
This was said in speech during the 2nd National Livestock Day Celebration and West African Agri Show at Accra.
According to him, the sector connects to industries that produce leather, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and textiles, making it a vital driver of both agribusiness and industrial growth.
He mentioned that the government’s vision for agriculture transformation is key because agriculture is the engine of sustainable livelihoods and industrialization, and livestock must be at its heart.
Through the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness he said, the government is already creating deliberate pathways to revamp livestock and poultry sector by equipping 20,000 young people, smallholder farmers, and aspiring agripreneurs with practical skills and knowledge in poultry and livestock production.
This will provide hands-on training in breeding, animal health management, feed formulation, and value chain development. It is not just about producing more birds and animals; it is about creating a generation of skilled agripreneurs who will sustain Ghana’s food systems, reduce import dependency, and make agriculture attractive to the youth.
He urged all Ghanaians to embrace the livestock sector as a sector of opportunity, dignity, and transformation. Together, let us invest in our farmers, empower our youth, build sustainable value chains, and create resilient food systems that can feed Ghana, Africa, and the world.
Speaking at the event, Imam Hanafi Sonde, the President of Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers said the event is to bring stakeholders together to cogitate how to revamp the industry.
He revealed that due to the challenges meted by the industry, it is key to collaborate with the government, ministries and the stakeholders both inside and outside the country to do a livestock revolution. This is to fight hard to change the face of the livestock sector, thus gradual adoption of intensive and semi-intensive system.
He called on the government to include the stakeholders in terms of data collection. As the people on grounds the stakeholders knows where the right information is and this would enhance proper data collection in Ghana.
He commended the stakeholders and urged to collaborate effectively to bring the challenges that is mitigating the progress of the industry.
