A united States-based company, Global Solutions Services LLC, is operating a $5 million (about ?45 billion) modern commercial poultry farm complex through its subsidiary, Farmer George Limited (FG) at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region.

The investment, which covers the initial period of five years, is the highest in the poultry industry in recent times and the company will inject additional capital as the company grows. The farm complex, designed to change the poultry industry in the country, has a minimum capacity of 540,000 birds a year from its two houses.

Trial run with 10,000 of a robust breed of chicks on the farm has begun and they would be out of brooding houses next week. The company is to create 65 jobs during the initial plan period and they would be increased to 103.

Indications are that instead of the normal four-week brooding of the chicks, the technology will make it in two weeks.

Each of the controlled broiler houses measures 40? x 500? fully ?equipped with automatic silos, feeding and drinking systems, brooding as well as cooling systems. ?We planned to build six more houses during the initial investment period?, says Jumana Sangari, Vice-President of the company. By embracing new technology and production methods, FG has gained a stronghold in the Ghanaian poultry industry in concluding the first stage of a fully integrated commercial production facility?, the vice president noted. She submitted that the combination of highly skilled and competent human resources with large-scale commercial production techniques, present a sure formula for success.

She said it is important to understand the poultry industry represents one way of accomplishing several national goals under a single banner employment, poverty reduction and improved nutrition. Mr. George K. Amoah, Chief Executive Officer of Global Solution Services LLC and founder of Farmer George Limited says: ?Our vision is to create an environment of affordable and sustained food production to meet the needs and nutritional requirements of the West African sub-region. We aim to become an effective partner for local producers and establish a knowledge centre for exchange of ideas in poultry practices?.

Ghana?s 19 million people require a daily protein requirement of 55 grams according to the World Health Organisation.

Consequently, increased poultry consumption will go a long way to cater for any protein deficiency. Programmes will be designed to teach and train people in basic skills and also help in the supply of the necessary inputs for small poultry farmers that will contribute to the nutrition and income of the rural families in the area. Poultry product imports have come under criticism, for operators in the sub-sector have complained that the import is killing the industry while the quality of the products has been questioned.

Proposals to slam duties on the import of poultry products last year were shelved and it drew the anger of poultry farmers.