Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture expresses concern about unavailable data on pig population

The Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, Emmanuel Eledi has expressed concern about unavailable data and actual statistics of pig population in the country.

He said though the pig is a highly prolific animal, the growth of the pig industry in Ghana has for some reasons not been able to keep pace with the growth of the human population, hence low animal protein availability to the ever growing population. 

According to Mr. Eledi, the situation creates room for the importation of both live pigs and processed pork which adversely imposes heavy strain on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. 

He made these known at the inauguration of the Ashanti Regional Pig Farmers and Processors Association, in Kumasi. 

The Association comprises six pig farmer associations located in the Atwima Nwabiagya, Afigya Kwabre and Kwabre East districts, Ejisu-Juaben and Obuasi Municipalities and Lake Road in Kumasi.  

Mr. Eledi said Government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is putting in place various interventions to alleviate the problems farmers are confronted with. 

In this respect, Government has imported a number of foreign bred pigs to improve upon  existing breeds. 
The Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Pig Farmers and Processors Association, Kwame Dei Ampofo disclosed that the total pig population in the region is estimated about 46 thousand. Out of this, Kumasi Abattoir alone processes 14 thousand 800 annually.
 
He mentioned certain challenges which hampers the smooth growth of the industry. They include difficulties in accessing feed for the animals to enhance their growth.  

GBC