The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, is leading a high-level Ghanaian delegation to Nebraska, Omaha in the United States as part of efforts to drive a major transformation of Ghana’s livestock sector under the government’s Livestock Development Project (LDP).
The visit forms part of broader plans by the Mahama administration to modernise and revitalise the livestock industry, in line with commitments outlined in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto.
According to the Minister, the week-long agricultural engagement will allow Ghana to draw lessons from Nebraska’s advanced livestock, dairy, and poultry systems, widely regarded as among the most efficient and technologically driven in the world.
Mr Opoku explained that the engagement is aimed at supporting government’s long-term strategy to build a more productive, competitive, and sustainable livestock sector capable of improving food security, creating jobs, and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported animal products.
The partnership is expected to expose the Ghanaian delegation to modern innovations in herd management, animal genetics, disease control, precision agriculture, and dairy and poultry production systems.
The Minister noted that the exchange will provide valuable insights to help accelerate Ghana’s livestock modernisation agenda and strengthen local production capacity.
Government believes adopting modern technologies and international best practices will significantly improve productivity, increase efficiency, and enhance the overall value chain within the livestock sector.
The engagement is also expected to deepen international agricultural cooperation and open opportunities for technical support, investment partnerships, and knowledge transfer between Ghana and agricultural institutions in Nebraska.
Ghana’s livestock sector has long faced challenges including low productivity, inadequate breeding systems, high feed costs, disease outbreaks, and heavy reliance on imports.
The renewed focus on livestock development forms part of a broader strategy to diversify the agricultural sector and position agriculture as a major driver of economic transformation and industrial growth.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture maintains that strengthening the livestock industry will not only improve nutrition and food availability but also create sustainable employment opportunities for thousands of young people across the country.
The Nebraska engagement is therefore being viewed as a critical step towards building a modern and globally competitive livestock sector for Ghana.
