Guinea Fowl Project on course - Agric Minister

Accra, May 17, GNA- Mr Ernest Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, said in Parliament on Thursday that the training of agricultural extension agents, agricultural development officers and veterinary officers in guinea fowl production is in progress since 2006.

He said as a policy, the Ministry tries to formulate and test all projects before implementation and therefore a feasibility study on the Guinea Fowl Project was instituted and a project concept developed. The Minister was responding to a question that stood in the name of the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin on the current status of the local Guinea Fowl Project as provided for in the 2006 budget of the Ministry. Mr Debrah said the project concept has been given to a consultant, who has been tasked to have a full project developed. "The pilot phase of the project is expected to start this year with the hatching of guinea chicks by farmers in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.

The Minister said: "As the population of guinea fowl increases, accompanied with increase in the production of guinea fowl eggs, the Ministry will then facilitate the establishment of hatcheries in other areas."

"The Ministry will then expand the pilot project into a full project serving the three regions and other regions in the country." Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Acting Road Transport Minister, also answered some questions from members on the progress of work on the New Biaka-New Ayoma road located in the Hohoe and Jasikan districts. The road was awarded for surfacing at a contract sum of 3.2 billion cedis but has not been completed due to non-performance by the contractor.

The Minister in his response said the contract has been terminated and re-awarded to another contractor in February this year.