24-10-13
 |
| Guinea Fowl |
 |
Farmers involved in guinea fowl
rearing have been implored to keep records of the birds in order for them to
make an accurate judgement on inputs, outputs as well as cost and returns. When
proper records are kept on the birds, farmers will be able to know the
mortality rate of their flocks, know the quantity of feed the flock consumes
and above all ensure the growth rate and feed conversion efficiencies of the
birds. It also helps in farm planning and budgeting and assists in identifying
sick, dead, as well as stray and weak birds. The call comes in the wake of low
production in guinea fowl rearing in the three regions of the north due to
unguided management practices. A guinea fowl expert, Edgar Draah, who made the
call at a sensitisation training workshop in Bolgatanga, said the production of
guinea fowl which was supposed to serve as an income generating activity for
rural households was gradually losing its value. The workshop he explained was
therefore organised to build the capacity of farmers on best practices in the
production of guinea fowl. It was also held to sensitize farmers on the need to
improve on the health status of the birds and boost their ability on improved
feed production formulation and general feeding of guinea fowls. Mr Draah, in a presentation further identified feed as one of the
major cost items in guinea fowl production. He observed that in the absence of
a good feed mortality among the birds was likely to be high whilst production
is also adversely affected. He said under intensive systems of production, the
owner is responsible for giving the bird all its nutrient requirements. This therefore
becomes challenging, particularly when owners had no training in feed
formulation, hence the need for the capacity training workshop. This among other interventions helps farmers
to value the production of the birds and venture into the feed milling
business. Participating farmers drawn from the various districts were taken
through topics including, egg handling and storage, brooding and medication,
housing, incubation, prevention and control of diseases as well as constraints
of keeping guinea fowl among others. The
President of the Upper East Guinea Fowl Association, Adongo Nyaaba, who later
spoke with Radio Ghana, underscored the need for the unemployed to venture into
guinea fowl rearing so as to generate income for themselves and sustain their
livelihood. Farmers, he moreover advised should consider guinea fowl rearing as
a lucrative venture and not a hobby. Mr Nyaaba
re-echoed the need for farmers to put into practice what they have learnt and
extend the knowledge acquired to benefit other farmers.
GBC END IA/
 |
| President, Upper East Guinea Fowl Association |
No comments:
Post a Comment