Animal Production Directorate (APD) is one of the Technical Directorates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The Directorate has additional mandate to oversee operations of seven National Livestock Breeding Stations (hyperlink) located in various parts of the country.

MISSION

To develop, promote and sustain poultry and livestock production for food security, employment creation and income generation through research, effective technical support, extension services, agro-business and industry, whilst ensuring that gender and environmental issues are adequately addressed.

VISION

A well developed and efficient institution capable of formulating sound policies, providing effective technical support and promoting sustainable and profitable livestock and poultry industries for food security, nutritional adequacy and enhanced incomes.

FUNCTIONS

The main functions of APD are:

Ensure effective and efficient implementation of Government policies on livestock and poultry
Promote the development of appropriate technologies on management, breeding, nutrition and housing of livestock
Facilitates the production of superior breeding stock from the indigenous breeds
Promote the development of the dairy industry in the country
Regulation of animal feed import
Promote the use of crop residues and agro industrial by – products in feeding livestock and poultry
Promote the improvement of the nutritive quality of rangelands by over- sowing with legumes to sustain ruminant production during the dry season
Promote the establishment of intensive forage production by livestock farmers
Promote the development of processing and marketing of livestock and poultry products
Facilitate the provision of stock water in livestock producing arrears where water resources are scarce

ACTIVITIES

Livestock Development Project

The Livestock Development Project is a project executed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and is jointly funded by the Government of Ghana, the African Development Bank and the Beneficiaries in the project areas. Initially a six-year project from 2002-2008, it has been extended to December 2010. The Project is implemented by the Directorates of Animal Production, Veterinary Services and the Livestock Planning and Information Unit.

The Project was instituted to address unavailability of improved breeding stock, poor nutrition of livestock, disease control and lack of adequate water during the dry season.

Credit-in-kind Scheme

A component of the LDP, it was instituted to enable farmers access loans to undertake production, marketing or labour saving activities.

Farmers are provided with loans for the improvement in livestock housing, purchase of breeding stock, processing of milk or meat, kit and veterinary drugs etc and are required to pay back the loans in kind, i.e. animals.

Cockerel Program

APD is currently running a cockerel program where improved cockerels are supplied to selected beneficiary farmers at a subsidized price.

The objectives are to enhance food security, increase intake of animal protein as well as the income earning capacity of rural dwellers particularly women with the view to reducing poverty among small scale poultry farmers in Ghana.
It is also designed to meet the country’s meat deficit and introduce farmers into commercial poultry production.

NATIONAL LIVESTOCK BREEDING STATIONS

Breeding Station

Region

Species bred

Babile Pig Breeding Station

Upper West

Pigs (Ashanti Black Forest)

Pong Tamale Livestock Breeding Station

Northern

Beef cattle (West African Shorthorn), sheep and goats (Sahellian & Djallonke) Pigs (Large White Large)

Ejura Sheep Breeding Station

Ashanti

Sheep (Djallonke)

Kintampo Goat Breeding Station

Brong-Ahafo

Goats (West African Dwarf)

Amrahia Dairy Breeding Station

Greater Accra

Dairy cattle (Sanga and Crossbreds)

Nungua Livestock Breeding Station

Greater Accra

Small stock (Grasscutter Rabbits) Pigs (Large White)

Nkwanta Livestock Breeding Station

Volta Region

Sheep, goat and donkeys