The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has pledged its support for the Guinea Fowl Farmers Association (GUIFFA) in the region to undertake guinea fowl rearing as one of the means to reduce poverty.
Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, made the pledge on behalf of the RCC when he inaugurated GUIFFA in Bolgatanga.
He said guinea fowl rearing, when taken seriously, could help address poverty in the region since it would generate employment for the people.
Mr Woyongo said guinea fowl meat was a delicacy not only to Ghanaians but to other people outside the country and therefore could be exported to generate foreign exchange.
He said market for guinea was unlimited and appealed to members of the association to take the farming seriously.
Mr. Woyongo told members of the association that the government attached much premium to agriculture and said it would as part of that, support guinea fowl rearing in the region.
He appealed to the executive to work hard to enhance the functioning of the association by lobbying non-governmental organizations to support it.
The Regional Chairman of GUIFFA, Mr. Thomas Asomburah, reiterated that the bird would reduce poverty and promote food and nutrition security in Northern Ghana.
He said if guinea fowl farming were given much attention it would help provide jobs for the youth in the region and prevent them from travelling to the south in search of non-existing jobs.
Mr. Asomburah appealed to the district assemblies in the region and NGOs to support the association to realize its dreams.
He commended the Germany Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and others who had provided technical training to some of the farmers.
Alhaji Abdul-Razaak Ziblim, Upper East Deputy Director of Agriculture, said the directorate would continue to offer technical advice and other support to the association and urged it to take farming activities seriously to help reduce poverty in the area.