The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krachi East in the Oti Region, Safo Nketia, has described the government's “Feed Ghana” project, particularly the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, as a major boost to poultry farming and livelihoods in the municipality.

Speaking in an interview during a monitoring visit by a team from Accra to assess the progress of the project, Hon. Nketia said Krachi East was fortunate to be selected as a beneficiary.

According to him, the municipality received 10,000 birds which were distributed to 250 households.

"So far so good with the Feed Ghana project, the aspect of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti. My municipality was fortunate to be selected and we received 10,000 birds, out of which 250 households benefited," he stated.

The MCE noted that before the project, only one or two people in the entire municipality were engaged in poultry rearing but the intervention has sparked keen interest among residents.

"Two years ago, we had only one or two people doing this bird rearing in the municipality, but with the coming of this Nkoko Nkitinkiti project, a lot of people have taken keen interest and have put up structures to keep the birds," he said.

He revealed that barely three months into the project, some beneficiaries have already started using the birds for food which is one of the primary objectives of the initiative while others have turned it into a source of income.

"Today, almost three months into the project, some have even started using the birds for food. For some, it has become a source of income," he added.

Hon. Nketia said the project is also creating indirect business opportunities as feed shops have sprung up in the municipality to meet the growing demand for poultry feed.

"Previously, we didn't have feed shops around where people could get feed for their birds, so it has become a source of business for some of them," he explained.

He added that poultry farming is keeping residents engaged and providing an alternative source of protein when meat is not readily available.

"Poultry keeping is not a small job. People now have something to tend to," he noted.

The MCE called on government to sustain and expand the project and expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the initiative.

"We really appreciate the opportunity given to the people of Krachi. We want to say thank you to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the good initiatives," he said.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti project is an aspect of the broader Feed Ghana programme aimed at boosting local poultry production, ensuring food security and creating jobs at the household level.