December 21, 2022

Alternate Livelihoods for Women and Youth In the Poultry Value Chain in Ghana

Animal Production Related

Ghana

For 2SCALE, inclusion of women and youth in agricultural value chains is a core tenet of our approach to agribusiness. One of the business champions that is very intentional about involving women in its business model is Rockland Farms in Ghana. Rockland Farms was established by Edith Akosah Wheatland in 2013 with the aim of ensuring a steady supply of affordable poultry products for the poor and medium income households to improve nutrition and at the same time strengthen market reach.

Demand for chicken has been growing steadily but the challenge is that most of the chicken consumed in Ghana comes from Brazil or the USA. Part of Edith’s motivation for starting the company was also to get locals to patronize locally grown chicken.

Since the start of the company, the business has grown with Rockland now processing over 1000 birds a day and expecting a new machine that will expand processing capacity to 5000 birds per day. Chicken demand is increasing due to the thriving chicken grilling business, Akoko Tasty as well as sales of chicken to other food establishments. To be able to meet the growing demand, Rockland has devised an outgrower system where the company outsources part of its chicken production to smallholder farmers in the Ashanti region. The system works this way: Rockland Farms trains the outgrowers on poultry production and management as well as records keeping and gives them some birds to rear (at least 250 chicks but could be more depending on farm size). The outgrowers also get all other inputs including chicken feed, drugs and vaccines from Rockland at affordable prices. Once the chicken are ready, Rockland offtakes them from the outgrowers, removing the burden of looking for markets, with the outgrowers earning a commission per bird. This results in a win-win for both the outgrowers and Rockand Farms.

As a business, our goal is in the next few years to process 8 million birds a year. To achieve this goal, we devised a mechanism that allows us to reach the goal and also empower chicken farmers by them being outgrowers. This is a win-win for both parties because Rockland gets to increase production and farmers can earn additional income. Through this system, we give farmers chicks, farm inputs and technical advice so that they can be able to rear the chicken. Once mature, we buy the chicken and the farmer earns a commission per bird,

Edith explains.

Youth in poultry program

In Ghana, the youth constitute at least 60% of the population. However, due to the challenging economic environment, finding jobs is a huge challenge. To help solve this challenge, Rockland has initiated the youth-in-poultry program to increase their participation in the poultry value chain. The youth in poultry mentorship program will identify areas in the value chain and analyze their profitability. This knowledge will be used to engage the youth in the most profitable enterprises along the value chain of the business champion. Startups such as the sale of table eggs, water and feed troughs, feed, distribution of eggs and meat to retailers, transportation, veterinary services are areas in the value chain that can generate employment for the youth (male/female).

Emmanuel Adu, 23, lives in Amoamang community in the Sekyere Central district in Ashanti Region and is reaping the benefits of being an outgrower. Prior to joining the outgrower scheme, Emmanuel had been engaged in subsistence farming.

Emmanuel had worked at Rockland Farms for 2 years prior as a farm hand. Through the Rockland-2SCALE partnership, he received training on feeding chicken, cleaning the chicken pen, care of eggs which has equipped him for the work of being an outgrower. 2SCALE facilitated the cost of setting up a low-cost chicken pen so that the environment is condusive for the growth of the birds.

As a young outgrower, my fellow youth are also very interested in becoming outgrowers because they see the impact the business is having on my livelihood. My sister is seeing the benefits that I am getting, and she is interested in joining the scheme next year. Eventually I want to expand the chicken pen to accommodate more chicken,

says Emmanuel.

Women empowerment through chicken rearing

Sala Inusa, 41 years had been engaged in subsistence maize farming on a 2-acre plot in Amoamang Zongo, a farming community in Ashanti Region. In one of the women’s group meetings that she is in, she learnt about Rockland Farms. After connecting with the extension officer from Rockland, Sala stated supplying rockland with maize as well as chicken. Maize is critical in poultry production as it is used as an input in producing chicken feed which is an essential input for outgrowers. Rockland also offers an input credit mechanism where farmers can get inputs on credit and the cost is deducted from the maize harvest that is offtaken at the end of the season.

2SCALE sponsored the cost of setting up the improved chicken pen under a pilot which now hosts 200 chickens.

Being an outgrower so far is a good experience for me. On average, I can make at least 700 cedis in a 6-week period when I sell my chicken to Rockland. Since I began the business, I now have peace of mind. Previously I used to take loans to cultivate and sometimes I lost money due to the bad climate. Now, I have another source of income to supplement my maize farming,

says Sala with a beaming smile on her face.

As a result of the proceeds from the sales of chicken and maize to Rockland, Sala has managed to expand her maize farm from 2 acres to 5 acres. Sala’s home is now also a learning center where other interested farmers in the village can come to see how the alternative livelihoods project can be a viable economic opportunity.

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