A farmer and service provider in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region, Madam Selorm, has praised the government’s Nkoko Nkitinki initiative, describing it as an important source of employment and income for young people.
Speaking about her experience under the programme, Madam Selorm, who is based at Agortime, said she successfully brooded 7,500 birds within the four-week period stipulated in her contract under the Ministry’s programme.
She explained that at the end of the brooding period, the birds were distributed evenly among beneficiaries.
However, demand exceeded supply, creating some pressure during the distribution process.
In response, the Member of Parliament for Agotime-Ziope took the initiative to provide an additional 1,000 birds for her to brood.
Madam Selorm said the second batch was also successfully brooded, recording only five deaths out of the 1,000 birds.
“To the glory of God, the brooding was successful. I brooded the birds with all treatments in place and, in the end, the birds were evenly distributed to the beneficiaries.
Out of the 1,000 birds which I brooded, the mortality rate was only five, which was a great work,” she said.
She stressed that the initiative goes beyond poultry farming, saying it also creates employment opportunities for people within beneficiary communities.
According to her, she could not manage the 7,500 birds alone and was therefore compelled to employ four workers to assist with the brooding and related activities.
“When the birds came, I saw it as a source of employment for the youth because I couldn’t do the work alone. So I had to recruit about four workers to support me to do this work, which was a source of income to them as well,” she explained.
Madam Selorm appealed to the sector Minister to sustain the Nkoko Nkitinki initiative to enable more young people to secure sustainable livelihoods and support their families.
“We are most grateful and we say thank you very much,” she added.
