CONSTRAINTS TO GUINEA FOWL PRODUCTION IN NORTHERN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF THE DAMONGO AREA

Abstract

A study was conducted in the Damongo area to identify major constraints to Guinea fowl production. The survey involved 35 farmers chosen randomly from Damongo and four other villages within 5 km radius of Damongo. All the farmers (100 %) indicated that high keet mortality, difficulty in sexing, and absence of a source of quality day-old keets were the main constraints. The other problems identified were lack of information about nutrient requirements of the local Guinea fowl, loss of birds and eggs through picking by predators, worm infestation, and taming of birds. The farmers indicated that Guinea fowl production is lucrative because there is a high demand for the meat and eggs.