Agricultural officials in the Central Region have called for more women to be targeted in future distributions under the government’s Nkoko Nkitinkiti poultry programme to improve its impact on livelihoods and household nutrition.

The region has so far received and distributed 224,960 chicks to beneficiary farmers across all 23 constituencies under the programme.

Speaking in an interview with Class Media Group (CMG) reporter Edem Afanou at the Regional Coordinating Council, Acting Regional Director of Agriculture, Ebenezer Azasu, said the distribution formed part of President John Dramani Mahama’s Feed Ghana programme aimed at boosting poultry production and livelihoods.

The region had expected to receive 230,000 chicks.

Of the birds received, 166,097 were broilers and 45,736 were layers.

Mr Azasu said many of the broilers had already reached maturity and been consumed, while most of the layers were still being reared until they begin laying eggs.

Central Regional Officer in Charge of Women in Agricultural Development, Mabel Konadu Boahen, said more women should be targeted in future distributions.

“Naturally, women are caretakers. We are able to nurture better than men. If we target nkoko nkitinkiti for women, they will be able to nurture their birds well and then they will grow well,” she said.

Ms Boahen said empowering women with the birds would also support family nutrition and income.

Mr Azasu also recommended that the government consider providing standardised poultry coops or approved designsfor beneficiaries.

He said the allocation of 50 birds per farmer was difficult for some beneficiaries whose facilities were inadequate.

He further called for greater emphasis on layers, arguing that they were hardier and could provide more sustainable income for beneficiaries.

The Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme seeks to encourage Ghanaians to venture into poultry farming by providing them with a starter package.

The distribution in the Central Region was carried out through the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), with each constituency submitting 200 names of interested farmers.