February 11, 2021

Cost of feeds and floods threaten Ghana's poultry industry

Egg prices have risen to 50% in the Bono Region of Ghana and are causing a problem in the country's poultry industry.

The sharp increase in the price of eggs was attributed to the high cost of ingredients used in the production of poultry feed such as maize, soybeans and other ingredients.

The high cost for these ingredients was blamed on floods last year that destroyed maize farms. According to News Ghana, torrential rain and spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso caused a flood that affected 16,574 farmers and destroyed nearly 6,000 hectares of farmlands. Additional reports said that the flood had destroyed almost 4,000 hectares of maize, over 550 hectares of sorghum and over nine hectares of soybeans.

Additionally, a drought further impacted harvest that resulted in low grain production. Ghana was advised by poultry professionals to restrict exports of soybean.

According to a member of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association, a bag of maize weighing 130kg cost GH¢150 (US$25.64) before November 2020 but is now priced at GH¢250 (US$42.73).

Ghana's Graphic Online reported that a single crate of eggs now costs GH¢20-25 (US$3.42-4.27) compared to GH¢13-18 (US$2.22-3.08) in November 2020.

 - Poultry World