An investigation of strategies to improve the competitiveness of the poultry industry in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana

Abstract

Copious research studies have been carried out on poultry production worldwide in the small and medium scale (SMS) sector, resulting in quantum challenges identified that oppose local industries, with production cost paramount. Nevertheless, none of these studies were found to offer effective strategies to overcome the challenges, revamp the poultry industry and enhance its competitiveness in the Brong Ahafo geographical area of Ghana. This research thus bridges the opening left and catalyses the debate by assessing SMS poultry producers’ competitiveness, along with the challenges that militate against the local industry, as well as government policies that seek to enhance the industry’s competitiveness. Additionally, strategies have been proposed to boost productivity and improve the poultry industry’s competitiveness. Moreover, the result will have specific significance, especially for developing countries who consider SMS poultry operation as employment creation, while also being a measure to enhance the local poultry industry’s competitiveness. This study adopted convergent mixed methods design through which quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently, analysed seperately and then merged and intepreted, looking for convergence, divergence, contradictions or relationships of the two sources of data. The quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a sample of 100 participants, comprising 66 SMS poultry farmers, 10 Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and veterinary officers, and 24 consumers of chicken. The SMS poultry farmers as well as the consumers received both closeended and open-ended questions. The MoFA and veterinary officials however, received only open-ended questions as the researcher required basically certain technical information from them as per the phenomenon under study. The administration of the questionnaires to the identified respondents was done through the help of a reserch assistant, with a personal interview as a follow up on the open-ended questions. This was done by means of site visits and hand delivery of the measuring instrument. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24.0, was used to analyse the quantitative data, with outcomes presented in cross-tabulations, correlation and frequency tables, as well as figures. The constant comparative analysis (CCA) method was used to analyse the qualitative data. The outcomes reveal that a low level of education, lack of management skills as wellas high production cost are impeding the operations of local poultry producers. The overwhelming challenges confronting the industry are exacerbated by policymakers’ apathetic attitude towards its development. However, by employing cost effective strategies throughout the poultry value chain, local producers can increase production, add value and be competitive in the turbulent market setting, currently dominated by foreign mega competitors. A collaboration is recommended between lawmakers and the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF), based on the study findings, in order to create an enabling environment, within which to promote policy implementation and ensure the local poultry industry’s competitiveness.