Rockland Farms links 8,000 maize farmers to poultry value chain

The Chief Executive Officer of Rockland Farms, Edith Akosah Wheathland, says the company has integrated nearly 8,000 smallholder maize farmers into its poultry value chain as part of efforts to reduce production costs, increase local chicken output and lessen Ghana's dependence on imported poultry products.

The Future of Poultry Beyond Akoko Nkitenkete programme, Ms Wheathland said, feed remained the single biggest cost component in broiler production, compelling the company to establish its own feed mill and build a reliable local supply chain for maize.

Ms Wheathland disclosed that the company is preparing for a major expansion with the construction of a processing plant capable of handling 2,000 birds per hour, describing large-scale production as essential to making locally produced chicken more competitive.