KNUST, The Future OF ‘POULTRY-CULTURE’ In Ghana
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is in great confidence as the institution in collaboration with several sponsors has moved to provide training for hatchery remodeling courses to help revamp the poultry sector in Ghana.
The University is set to introduce MPhil and PhD in Poultry Science and Technology.
According to the Pro- Vice Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, the University as a science and Technology institution is interested in solving the teaming problems in the country.
Therefore, as a result of research and teaching, knowledge and know-how would be shared with the industry while the society is bent on improving and impacting through joint undertakings.
This statement was made known at the book launch (Poultry Hatchery Principles for Professionals) of the renowned Dr. Jacob Alhassan Hamidu.
The event, organized by the Department of Animal Science in collaboration with Skills Development Fund, was held at the Great Hall Conference Room on Thursday, 25th March 2021.
To grace the occasion were dignitaries like the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University; Professor Ellis Owusu Dabo, Chief of Party of Ghana Project; Carianne De Boer, Director of Food and Agriculture-Ashanti Region; Reverend John Manu, Director of the Ghana Standard Association; Steve Kwarteng , Head of Department of Animal Science; Dr. Micheal Boateng, among others.
In 2014, poultry farmers in Ghana imported more than five million day old chicks to meet the shortfall in local production.
Back then, there were only six hatcheries producing between 20 to 40 percent of the installed capacity.
They produced a total of 804,000 day old chicks to be reared as broilers and 2,412,000 day old chicks to be reared as layers.
Statistics from the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture showed that 1,088,865 day old chicks were imported for rearing as broilers.
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According to Business Insider, Ghana currently imports over US$ 300 million worth of chicken annually, or the equivalent of 5 million chickens each week.
The country’s own production equates to about 58,000 metric ton whereas national demand is about 400,000 metric ton.
With expertise like Dr. Hamidu and the support from KNUST, the country can only hope for a great boost in the food agriculture sector especially with retrospect to poultry science and technology.
The Department Of Animal Science is currently undertaking a STATE-OF-THE-ART-EGG production facility which will support the Olympio hatchery and other hatcheries in the Ashanti region and certainly beyond.
“Very soon we will not go outside this country for fertile eggs again. We will find all here at the KNUST.”
