Coordinator-Sustainable Economic Development Cluster at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Wilhelm Hugo, has said the Piggery for Jobs Project will help address some challenges faced by the piggery industry.
Speaking at the inauguration of a 35,000-pig annual capacity processing facility, he said the industry is faced with many challenges. He, therefore, expressed confidence that the project will help deal with challenges such as disease control, particularly the management of African swine fever.
“The Piggery for Jobs Project will mitigate these risks by implementing adequate biosecurity measures, vaccination programmes and effective disease surveillance to enhance the industry’s full potential,” said Mr. Hugo.
According to Mr. Hugo, Piggery for Jobs will support the creation of at least 300 new jobs within the piggery value chain and improve incomes and working conditions for about 700 farmers in Ashanti Region.
The Piggery for Jobs project and a state-of-the-art meat processing factory were established by German Cooperation and Piper Pretty Limited at Barekese-Ashanti Region.
This marks a significant stride in Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly within the piggery value chain, aimed at creating jobs, improving the livelihoods of farmers, enhancing food security and driving sustainable growth within the region and Ghana.
Commenting on the project’s processing aspect, Chief Executive Officer-Piper Pretty Company, Mr. Isaac Owusu Asubonteng, stated that the ultra-modern meat processing facility – with capacity to process and package up to 35,000 pigs annually for commercial purposes – will add value to the entire chain by providing an available and sustainable market for farmers and well-processed finished products for consumers.
The Piggery for Jobs has mobilised and trained over 700 farmers and their employees. These capacity-building activities encompassed animal welfare, good animal husbandry practices, biosecurity and educating farmers on the importance of social protection schemes, including pensions and insurance.
The Piggery for Jobs project is implemented by GIZ and Piper Pretty Company Limited within the framework of Invest for Jobs – a brand of the Special Initiative ‘Decent Work for a Just Transition’ of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
About Piper Pretty Company Limited
Piper Pretty Company Limited is a livestock farming business with an ultra-modern pig farm, partnering and empowering pig farmers in Ghana. The company’s prime focus is to provide sustainable jobs for people in the Agriculture Sector while contributing to food security.
The company’s vision is to become the biggest livestock company in Ghana and beyond, with a uniquely holistic approach to pig production. It envisions a set-up producing and processing tonnes of high-quality pig products for the local and international markets.
