A welder at Agotime-Ziope in the Volta Region, Mr. Gideon Amuga Aduko, says the government’s Nkoko Nkitinki initiative has opened up a new and profitable livelihood for him alongside his welding business.
Mr. Aduko, who has always had an interest in agriculture, said he never had the opportunity to venture into poultry farming until he heard about the initiative and decided to register.
“When the initiative came, they said anybody who is interested should go and register. I went and registered,” he recounted.
After being informed that the birds had arrived, Mr. Aduko took the initiative to construct a poultry structure himself, drawing on his skills as a welder.
“You can see this structure here, it wasn’t done by a carpenter apart from the roofing. I did all these things myself because I am a welder,” he explained.
He was subsequently provided with 100 birds—50 layers and 50 broilers under the programme.
Mr. Aduko told the media that he has already recorded his first eggs and is optimistic that poultry farming could prove more profitable than his welding business.
“I’ve seen that it will be very beneficial. Fortunately today, the first eggs have been laid. I will even compare it to my welding work, that I know it will be very profitable. It has given me the opportunity to do another work in addition to my welding work,” he said.
According to him, his growing interest in poultry farming has made him consider taking it up as a full-time venture in the future.
“If I come and see the birds, I’m very happy. From now, I know that I’m a welder at the same time, a poultry farmer too,” he stated.
Mr. Aduko also expressed his willingness to share the knowledge he has acquired with other young people in the community who may be interested in poultry farming.
He suggested that veterinary officers could organise training sessions to equip more young people with the necessary skills to enter the sector.
“The little that I have acquired, I can show them. But the trainer himself is there. If they can organise something like a class so that the veterinary officer can train a lot of people, they will gain interest in this work,” he noted.
Mr. Aduko expressed his appreciation to the government for introducing the initiative, saying its impact is already being felt in the community.
“I thank the Ghana government a lot. This is not hearsay or any campaign thing. Everybody has seen this thing for himself. The programme is really good for me and almost the whole town. I will encourage them to start it. The government has done a lot for us,” he added.
