Assessment of the Poultry Industry in the Upper East Region
Ethel Balariwari Bazum-nyang(1,*), Francis Akafari Akuribire(1), Martin Aduah(1, 2), Dominic Ndela(1), and Frederick Adzitey(3)

(1) Department of Agriculture, Regentropfen University College, Kansoe, Bolgatanga, Ghana.

(2) Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.

(3) Department of Animal Science, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.

*Corresponding Author^s Email: ethelbalariwari[at]gmail.com

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the poultry industry in the Upper East Region of Ghana- examining the demographic distribution of poultry farmers, poultry species reared, income levels, and major sectoral constraints. The region^s poultry farmer population is dominated by males, 85% (595,850), and stands at approximately 701,000, with the highest number 136,695 (19.5%) found in the Kassena-Nankana District, followed by 119,170 (17.0%) in Bolgatanga Municipal, and 84,120 (12.0%) recorded in the Talensi District. Chickens dominate the poultry stock, accounting for about 74.7% (523,047 birds)- favoured for their short production cycles, high demand, adaptability, and profitability. Guinea fowls accounted for 16.6%, ducks, 5.0%, and turkeys make up just 2.1%. Other species like pigeons and quails both constitute about 1.7% (11,817 birds) and also contribute significantly to the Regional poultry diversity and cultural value. Income analysis of farmers revealed that poultry farming offers modest, yet reliable livelihoods- 41.5% of farmers earn between Ghana cedis, GHS 500 (USD 45) and GHS 1,000 (USD 91) monthly, while 34.0% earn less than GHS 500- indicating prevalent subsistence-level operations. Also, only 7.9% of the farmers earn above GHS 2,000 monthly (USD 181), reflecting limited commercial scale activity. Key challenges constraining the industry in the study area include disease outbreaks- primarily Coccidiosis, and Newcastle affecting over 60% of farmers, feed scarcity and rising costs reported by nearly half (49.8%) of the farmers, and limited access to capital, veterinary services, and market opportunities. Additionally, difficulties in accessing improved poultry breeds and climate change impacts, such as erratic rainfall and heat stress, further inhibit sector growth. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policy frameworks and infrastructural investments to improve feed availability, strengthen veterinary support, and facilitate market access. Addressing these challenges is critical for scaling up poultry production, sustaining rural livelihoods, and enhancing the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal two (SDG-2), Zero Hunger in the study area and Ghana as a whole.

Keywords: Disease outbreaks, feed cost, climate change, rural livelihoods, and SDG-2

Topic: Animal Production