The Ghana Region of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) has established a poultry farm in Asikasu, Donkorkrom, Kwahu Afram Plains North District, Eastern Region, Ghana, to support their evangelization work within the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.
The official opening of the farm was marked by the blessing of cages for the birds (layers) by Rev. Fr. Vincent Amuzu Asafo, SVD, Bishop’s Secretary and Assisting Priest at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, on May 15, 2025.
Speaking during the blessing ceremony, Fr. Asafo congratulated the Sisters on the initiative, which he said would not only benefit the MSHR Congregation but also improve the lives of the poor masses they serve, as it would create job opportunities for some of them, among other benefits.
In an interview with the writer, Sr. Stella Nwosu, MSHR, Headmistress of Holy Rosary School, Asikasu-Donkorkrom, who was the brain behind the poultry project, and temporary manager of the project, revealed that the project was born simply out of her passion for poultry farming. “Poultry is my hobby; I like it, I just like monitoring those birds, from a day old, and see them grow,” she expressed.
Apart from it being a sustainability initiative for the Sisters’ mission in the remote and deprived Donkorkrom, Sr. Nwosu underscored that the newly created poultry farm is also a means of evangelization in the sense that, through it, she intends to educate the women in the community, who are mostly farmers, on the need to make home gardens using the fowl droppings from the poultry.
This, she said, will certainly help to cut down costs on their part as they wouldn’t need to go to the market for vegetables.
She also shared the hope that the growing farm will employ a number of these women, so that when they return from their farms, they could get some side job to do at the farm, where they can earn some money to complement the farming they are doing for a living.
The Nigerian-born Missionary Sister, who has managed various poultry farms in the past in her Region of origin, testified that some young people from Donkorkrom have indicated an interest in learning about poultry farming, and she is willing and open to teach them when they are ready. 
She celebrated the fact that she was particularly motivated by the maximum support of the Holy Rosary Sisters in the Ghana Region to begin the farm in Donkorkrom.
“That initial support from all the Sisters in the Region was for me, the number one pillar to forge ahead,” she affirmed, adding that they have continued to stand by her to date.
The Holy Rosary Sister was deeply indebted to Sr. Ifeoma Onwudinjo and Ellen Aderson, MSHR of the MSHR Development Office in the United States of America, for single-handedly funding this project. “God will continue to bless them,” she prayed.
She was also very grateful for the cooperation and assistance she got from the various agents with whom she connected to make the poultry a reality, namely: REISS & Company (Ghana) Ltd, Accra – Exclusive Distributor of Day-Old-Chicks at Pluriton, in the Netherlands, who supplied the birds and drinkers, and Mr. Festus Osei Amanfi, CEO of Kingfest Company Limited (Akokor Amanfi), Accra, Ghana, who supplied the cages.
The poultry farm manager also appreciated Mr. John Koranteng, CEO of J. A Koranteng Farms and Feed Mills, Nkawkaw, Ghana, for supplying the feed, Dr. Mark Owusu, Veterinary Clinic, Nkawkaw, and the Veterinary and Laboratory Clinic office in Donkorkrom, headed by Mr. Richard Okata, for being faithful in supplying the vaccines and seeing to the consultation of the birds, among others.
Testifying that the over 1000 birds consume at least 100kg (2bags) of feed daily, Sr. Nwosu shared the belief that once the birds attain their peak (20 weeks old), which is just in a few months to come, they should be able to lay well, “at least 30 crates a day; that’s what I am praying for,” she said.
It was her ardent desire and prayer that the new project yields the needed results “to support the efforts, energy, time, and money pumped in”.
Having commenced with 1,080 birds, which got reduced by 58 after a wild wind and stampede shortly after their arrival, Sr. Nwosu hoped to concentrate on layers, since there is a ready market for eggs in Donkorkrom and environs. And for broilers, she only hoped to raise some upon request or during festive periods, since there is not much market for them.
In an interaction with the writer, Mrs. Paulina Bayor, one of the first beneficiaries of the poultry farm, who was employed as the poultry attendant, confessed that she was very happy working in the farm; at least she has got something to keep herself busy with when she is not in the farm, she said.
She also shared that her work at the Holy Rosary Poultry Farm provided her some financial relief, expressing joy that not long ago she could use her salary from the poultry business to shop for her son, who was returning to school, without much stress.
Mrs. Bayor further admitted that the poultry farm also serves as a learning avenue for her children, who often come there after school to assist her. She added that the introduction of cages and automatic drinkers on the farm makes her work less stressful since she wouldn’t have to bend so much during her tasks.
By: Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Sister Communicator/DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
