On average, people around the world eat about 6.4 kilograms of beef each year. They also eat about 2 kilograms of sheep and goat meat per person each year. This shows that meat, especially beef, is a big part of many people’s meals. In Ghana, people consume various types of meat daily. Meat is a daily part of their meals. The livestock industry plays an important role in Ghana’s economy. 

In 2022, it added about 4.9 billion GHS to the country’s gross domestic product. This comes to roughly $409.4 million, accounting for nearly 13% of the agriculture sector’s GDP. Additionally, the livestock sector contributes significantly to Ghana’s economy. It presents many opportunities for future investors and benefits the entire community. This highlights the significance of the livestock sector to the Ghanaian economy, making it a crucial area for policymakers to focus on and support.

Ghana has approximately 8.7 million goat heads, nearly 5.8 million sheep heads, and approximately 2.2 million cattle heads. By 2020, the average amount of cattle meat consumed by each individual in Ghana was roughly 1.55 kg. A country with approximately 32 million people consumes around 49,600 metric tons of beef meat annually. 

An estimated 600,000 families in Northern Ghana alone maintain livestock. The northern ecological zone contributes the highest percentage of cattle (84 percent), sheep (60 percent), and goats (60 percent) to the national production. Not only do people consume these meats, but for many, these livestock are their primary source of income.

People sell goats, sheep, and cattle to meet their financial needs. By selling these animals, they support their families. Fenuku is a 68-year-old farmer who is involved in livestock farming. His level of education is also relatively low. When he was a child, he was unable to pursue an education due to the loss of both his parents and the absence of any older siblings. 

Throughout his life, he struggled to secure a reliable source of income. He also could not adopt new technologies, so he did not achieve fruitful results. He now wants to learn new techniques and methodologies. Moreover, Ghanaian farmers encounter numerous obstacles in their everyday livestock farming process.

Challenges in livestock farming, among others, include 

Unpredictable weather patterns, droughts reaching very long periods, extreme temperatures disrupting water and feed availability, and, consequently, affecting livestock health and productivity.

Although foot-and-mouth and peste des petits ruminants are prevalent, access to veterinary services and vaccines remains limited. 

Added to these are the challenges of feed and water shortages.

Financial constraints that lock out access to credit, and 

Poor market access due to a lack of infrastructure. 

Farmers struggle to improve their work because there are insufficient agricultural extension services. These services help farmers learn better farming practices. Also, there are often fights between herders and crop farmers. They often argue over land and water. This causes tension and problems in the community.

Investors should be prepared to form new organizations aimed at aiding farmers. These organizations can play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by the livestock sector. Imagine a new investor establishing an organization that primarily employs two innovative strategies.

One strategy involves establishing a centralized hub with IoT sensors, satellite data, and AI algorithms to monitor weather patterns and soil moisture. This hub will also provide farmers with real-time data, empowering them to make informed decisions. 

The second implementation plan involves the creation of mobile veterinary clinics equipped with telemedicine capabilities. These clinics will travel to remote areas, providing essential veterinary services, vaccinations, and training on disease management. 

For remote consultations, telemedicine will connect farmers with veterinary experts. The data will provide farmers with information to prevent unknown weather patterns and droughts, while the second step will protect livestock from diseases. 

These innovative solutions aim to improve the livestock sector and make a difference in the lives of farmers like Fenuku, who require support and resources. 

CowTribe has significantly improved Kurian’s life. Kurian is also a livestock farmer, with 100 cattle and 25 sheep. CowTribe is a Ghanaian for-profit organization that provides specialized support to livestock farmers through a mobile-based platform. Its goal is to improve the accessibility and affordability of animal health services, particularly vaccinations. 

CowTribe’s mission is to improve the lives of smallholder farmers by empowering them to protect their livestock from deadly diseases. Since its creation, CowTribe has increased vaccine coverage. They reduced annual livestock mortalities in some communities from 50% to less than 5%. It has helped farmers add approximately $300 more to their yearly household income. 

By the end of 2019, CowTribe had served 37,241 farmers in 376 communities across northern Ghana, on course for their 2025 target of reaching one million farmers. Co-founded by Peter Awin and Alima Bawah, CowTribe is an innovative approach to animal healthcare that helps farmers increase their livelihoods to reduce poverty and malnutrition. 

This organization has significantly improved the lives of thousands of farmers, such as Kurian, who now express a desire to form their own organizations and participate in new ones. As more new projects expand, they will also experience substantial growth, similar to CowTribe. This success story of CowTribe shows the potential impact of investor-backed organizations on the livestock sector.

The market size is enormous, and the demand for livestock will always stay put. In 2023, the value of the goat meat market alone surged to around USD 131 million, a 16% increase from the previous year. In 2021, Ghana’s estimates placed the total market size of livestock and livestock products, excluding poultry, at $39 million. 

Local consumption of meat, milk, and other animal products drives most of the production. Ghanaians incorporate livestock products into numerous traditional dishes and ceremonies, making them an integral part of their diet. 

Ghana trades live animals at a regional level, especially with neighboring countries like Burkina Faso, a significant trade partner for cattle, sheep, and goats. Compared to other agricultural products, livestock exports are relatively small. Namibia is an essential destination for Ghana’s sheep and goat meat exports. Indonesia is the country’s leading destination for bovine meat exports. 

The focus remains on satisfying the domestic needs. The bulk of the livestock sector’s products are consumed domestically, which traditional farming practices help meet. Dairy products are also a beneficial source. Therefore, investors should take the initiative and develop new approaches to achieve a profitable outcome.