22 Communities To Benefit From Guinea Fowl Project

Even though the north is a fertile ground for food crop production in the country, the unpredictable climatic conditions in the area continue to pose threats to the livelihoods of the people who are mainly farmers. As a result, alternative livelihoods projects such as guinea fowl rearing has attracted the attention of some stakeholders, who have taken advantage of the suitability of the semi-arid agro-ecological conditions in the regions to train farmers in the business of guinea fowl rearing. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in collaboration with the International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED), has, therefore, implemented a $312, 000 project dubbed �enhancing guinea fowl production in the northern regions.� It was funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The project would benefit 22 communities in the four pilot districts of East Mamprusi in the Northern Region, Lawra and Lambusie-Kani in the Upper West Region and the Kasena Nankana West District in the Upper East Region. Under the project, three guinea fowl breeding and demonstration centres equipped with the necessary hatchery equipment, generators, water storage facilities and other amenities have been established at Pong-Tamale, Babile in the Upper West and Paga in the Upper East regions. At a hand over of the project at Pong-Tamale in the Savelugu/Nanton District, the FAO Animal Production and Health Officer in charge of the sub-regional Office for West Africa, Dr Berhanu Bedane, said a total of 6,600 improved breeds of guinea fowls and starter kits were distributed to 181 model farmers. He explained that it was aimed at improving food security, human welfare and the reduction in poverty in the country. The national project co-ordinator, Mr Samuel Apiiga, observed that food production and livestock rearing in the area had declined over the years in relation to population growth and difficult weather conditions.