The Tema Metropolitan Assembly has distributed chicks to 300 registered farmers in the first phase of the Nkok? Nkitinkiti Programme, with each beneficiary receiving between 30 and 40 birds under the government’s flagship poultry revitalisation initiative.

The distribution exercise forms part of a national effort to revive backyard poultry farming, enhance household nutrition, and reduce the country’s dependence on imported poultry products.

Speaking at the event recently, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Tema, Ebi Bright, described the programme as a transformative intervention aimed at strengthening food security, promoting self-sufficiency, and fostering stronger collaboration between communities and government.

Ms Bright noted that the initiative went beyond food production, stressing its social, educational, and cultural importance within communities.

Vision

She said the programme aligned with a broader national development agenda under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, which sought to improve household livelihoods through inclusive policies that directly benefit ordinary citizens.

She explained that beneficiaries selected for the first phase represented a pilot group within a broader vision to scale the programme across the entire metropolis and, ultimately, to communities nationwide.

Ms Bright added that the initiative also presented a unique opportunity for families to reintroduce traditional practices of communal food production and mutual support.

“This is an opportunity to teach our children and families how to produce food for themselves.

It revives traditional practices where communities support and celebrate each other,” she said.

The MCE commended the Metropolitan Department of Agriculture and the foundation farms within the community for successfully nursing the day-old chicks to a healthy stage before distribution.

She further disclosed that the assembly was exploring additional support mechanisms, including the provision of feed and cages, through its social intervention programmes to ensure the sustainability of the initiative.

Pressure

The Tema Metropolitan Director of Agriculture, George Batse, said the programme was designed to reduce Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported poultry products while easing pressure on foreign exchange.

He explained that each of the two constituencies in Tema, that is Tema East and Tema Central, was allocated 10,000 day-old chicks, which were raised by accredited service providers for four weeks before being distributed to registered beneficiary households.

Mr Batse noted that registration for the programme was free and required only a Ghana Card, verification of residence, and confirmation of adequate space for rearing the birds.

“We conducted background checks on the selected beneficiaries and will embark on continuous monitoring to ensure the birds are properly cared for and remain within our jurisdiction,” he said.

He added that allocating between 30 and 40 birds per household ensured wider coverage while allowing beneficiaries to consume the birds, sell them for income, or reinvest the proceeds into future production, making the programme both a food security and livelihood support intervention.