Poultry farmers in the Western Region say the 2007 budget statement contains the necessary support and encouragement for the revival of the ailing poultry industry in the country. They said the sector had the potential for wealth creation and employment generation to reduce poverty if all aspects relating to the industry would not be "paper work" but would be implemented. Tony Osei Mensah, chairman of the Regional branch of the National Poultry Farmers Association stated these when he spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the future of the industry in relation to the recent budget statement presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu. He said it was laudable for government to promote the use of locally produced poultry products by all public institutions, schools and the security agencies adding that this would go a long way to conserve foreign exchange. Mr Mensah also welcomed the idea to encourage closer collaboration between the Association and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to enhance effective implementation of measures to revamp the poultry industry. He said members of the Association were prepared to collaborate with related institutions to ensure the successful implementation of measures to improve agriculture in general and called for an "even playing field" to ensure fair competition between local poultry producers and importers of poultry and poultry products. The Regional Chairman of the Association also called for the passing of the law backing the National Poultry Development Board to make it effective. Mr Mensah disclosed that the initial scare of the Avian Flu that compounded the problems of poultry farmers had died down and "business is picking up steadily". He advised farmers to take advantage of available financing support to improve production to meet demands. Source: GNA