By Ernestina Serwaa Asante, GNA
Accra, Aug. 17, GNA - A Poultry and Livestock Barbecue Festival, which seeks to add value to the production of poultry and livestock, has been launched in Accra.
Dr Gyeile Nurah, the Minister of State, who launched the Festival on Tuesday, said it would accelerate the growth of the poultry and livestock sector and create business opportunities.
He charged those engaged in barbecuing to be members of the food chain, adding; “It is better to produce table ready meat instead of producing only raw meat.”
The Minister said livestock farmers must identify the value added activities that could support their investments adding that the low value addition in the Livestock Sector was due the miniature meat processing in Ghana.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment towards investing in the sector to make it more viable for economic growth.
Madam Elizabeth K.T Sackey, the Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, said the Barbecue Festival was a new agricultural event, which would be held annually.
She said it would assemble key players in the poultry and livestock business to dialogue on ways to increase output to flourish their businesses.
The Barbecue Festival formed part of government’s vision to modernise agriculture and increase productivity through improved production efficiency, enhanced food security and profitability of farmers.
Madam Sackey said government intended to pursue a value-addition strategy, which was to increase agro-processing and develop new and stable markets for Ghanaian products.
She said agriculture contributed directly and indirectly to the socio-economic development of the nation through food supply, income creation, and provision of raw materials to some industries as well as facilitate some research works.
She urged participating industries and farmer-based associations to give their best in terms of quality produce and affordable prices.
“I urge all industry players to pay serious attention to the finishing and packaging of their products since many of our products are unable to compete on the international market due to our poor finishing,” she said.
Ms Gifty Roder, the President of Women in Poultry, called for policies to cushion the poultry industry such as quality feed, capacity building and the technical know-how on the use of some equipment.
Mr Siegfried Affedzie-Obresi, the Director of Animal Research Institute, urged the Government to formulate policies to clear misconceptions on the consumption of livestock and poultry products saying; “the public should patronise poultry products as they have essential nutrients for body growth”.
GNA
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