A new piggery and meat processing factory has been launched in Barekese, in the Ashanti Region, in response to Ghana’s growing demand for pork. The Piggery for Jobs project addresses a critical gap in the agricultural sector, driven by urbanization, population growth, and changing dietary preferences. Between 2017 and 2022, Ghana imported 7,000 metric tonnes of pork (Trade Data LLC), underscoring the need to boost local production.

The initiative, a collaboration between Ghanaian company, Piper Pretty Limited and the German Cooperation Agency, GIZ, aims to strengthen the piggery value chain, drive economic growth, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods across the country.

Since its inception, the Piggery for Jobs project has mobilized and trained over 700 farmers and their employees. Training programmes have focused on animal welfare, good animal husbandry practices, biosecurity, and raising awareness about social protection schemes like pensions and insurance.

At the project launch, Mr. Wilhelm Hugo, Coordinator of the Sustainable Economic Development Cluster at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, addressed the challenges facing the piggery industry. “Disease control, especially managing African swine fever, remains a significant hurdle,” he stated. “The Piggery for Jobs project will mitigate these risks by implementing robust biosecurity measures, vaccination programs, and disease surveillance systems, unlocking the full potential of Ghana’s piggery industry.”

A centerpiece of the project is the ultra-modern meat processing facility established by Piper Pretty Company Limited. With the capacity to process and package up to 35,000 pigs annually for commercial purposes, the factory is designed to ensure a sustainable market for farmers while delivering high-quality, processed pork products to consumers.

“This facility adds tremendous value to the entire chain,” said Mr. Isaac Owusu Asubonteng, CEO of Piper Pretty Company Ltd. “It creates a reliable market for farmers and offers well-processed products to meet growing consumer demand.”

The initiative is set to create at least 300 new jobs along the piggery value chain and improve working conditions for over 700 farmers in the Ashanti Region.

Implemented by GIZ and Piper Pretty Company Ltd., the project is part of the Invest for Jobs initiative under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).