The government of Ghana is considering plans to process surplus eggs into powder and other value-added products as part of efforts to tackle recurring gluts in the poultry sector and reduce financial losses suffered by farmers.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy under the proposed national poultry master plan aimed at stabilising market prices, extending product shelf life, minimising post-production losses and creating new opportunities within the poultry value chain.
Speaking to journalists after a stakeholder dialogue on the proposed poultry master plan, Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Etu-Bonde, said government is placing strong emphasis on value addition and improved storage systems to better manage excess egg production.
“Eggs can be processed into powder, and that is part of the value addition we want the poultry master plan to address,” he stated.
For years, poultry industry players have raised concerns over periodic oversupply of eggs, a situation that often compels farmers to sell below cost, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Mr Etu-Bonde explained that government interventions in maize and soya production had contributed to lower feed prices, thereby encouraging more investment in poultry farming.
“The egg glut has come to our attention. Last year, the ministry supported the production of grains such as maize and soya, and that has brought feed prices down. As a result, more people have been incentivised to go into poultry production,” he said.
He disclosed that the government is also relying on the School Feeding Programme to absorb part of the excess supply and support local poultry farmers.
“The President has instructed that the School Feeding Programme should purchase eggs from the market as part of the effort to support poultry farmers,” he added.
According to him, the proposed poultry master plan will provide long-term solutions to strengthen the poultry industry, expand processing capacity and reduce the effects of recurring production gluts nationwide.
