Challenges to Commercialization of Guinea Fowl in Africa

Abstract

This paper evaluated literature on challenges to commercialization of guinea fowl on the African continent. Although the origin of guinea fowl is Africa, commercialization of these birds on the continent is still in its infancy. Across Africa, guinea fowl are reared at subsistence level with low levels of inputs committed resulting in low productivity. In rearing guinea fowl, a myriad of challenges are experienced including inter alia inadequate nutrition, poor housing, high keet mortality, lack of health control and inadequate technical support from government extension services. In order to raise productivity of guinea fowl enterprises, feed improvement, hygienic and sanitary preventive programme have to be applied. It is apparent that addressing these challenges will contribute to guinea fowl production being an important supplier of high-quality animal protein (meat and eggs) and a job creator for the rural populace.