By Joyce Bedeley:
Secretary of the Progressive Pig Farmers Association, Mr. Barnabas Agalekpe has noted that pig production is a valuable option to consider in livestock farming. This he attributed to their high breeding rate. Mr. Barnabas who made the observation on the Akuafo Sesen segment of the Rite Morning Ride with Krobea Asante on Monday however decried the perception that pigs are ‘dirty animals.’
He pointed out that though most religions forbid their followers from consuming pork, piggery demand is still high nevertheless. This he indicated is evidenced in the very high demand which is accompanied by regular imports, adding that ‘religion should therefore not deprive anybody from engaging in the piggery business.’
Mr. Agalekpe therefore urged local producers desirous of venturing into piggery production to get good breeds from pig producers.
Meanwhile, assemblyman of the South Senchi electoral area, Hon Gordon Gakpo lamented on the several challenges that continue to plague their work. Mr. Gakpo who also spoke on the Akuafo Sesen segment of the Rite Morning Ride on Monday noted that pig farmers were facing a lot of challenges especially regarding the cost of feed. The cost of feed, he explained is so high that farmers are always at their wits end.
Mr. Gakpo noted that customers are naïve about the cost of running the livestock and therefore always insist on buying the animals at their own price, arguing that that could affect their businesses.
Quoting some of the prices to back his lamentation, he said the maize brand is selling for as high as Gh c 40.00 while the wheat and Rice brands are going for Gh c 15.00 and Gh c 14.00 respectively.
Their passionate appeal to government therefore is for the Ministry of Agric to step in and aid them in order to produce their own local feeds for their piggeries using grass and other materials. This he argued would help their cause by reducing production cost which will help them a lot and will also regulate the market for their produce.
Source: ritefmonline.org
