Farmers advised to keep records of Guinea Fowls to increase their production

Facilitator of OFAB on the floor

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.

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