13 Nov 2014

Other than pertinent commercial and sustenance aspects of venturing into guinea fowl business, the enterprise may prove a worthwhile security feature.

The revelations were made by the department of wild and national parks official, Mr Mpho Gaborutwe at a guinea fowl farming workshop in Kanye recently.

He the ultra-sensitive nature of the “birds” to movement help raise alarm and had potential to foil criminal activities in homesteads where they are reared. He said this demystifying wildly held misconception by some people that guinea fowls were a noisy group of birds with little significance.

Meanwhile, Mr Gaborutwe called on guinea fowl farmers to emulate chicken industry by establishing a robust and fully fledged business industry. He said farmers should consider value adding aspects such as packaging, sales of eggs and feathers from the birds as a way to augment profit and minimise spending.

For his part, Senior Wildlife Warden, Mr Mpho Kalanke said efforts by his department like any other government department are hinged upon by the national vision.

He said for instance, that the facilitation of the workshop drew inspiration from Vision pillars of; ‘an educated, informed nation’ and that of ‘a prosperous, productive and innovation’ hence the theme, “Economic diversification through guinea fowl farming towards 2016 and beyond’.

Mr Kalanke was hastened to point out that the vision also challenges individual Batswana to contribute towards its realisation through engaging in ventures that will assist create of employment for fellow citizens and oust poverty.

He said diversifying the economy through ventures such as guinea fowl farming away from traditional forms such as small stock and cattle farming calls for diligence on the part of farmers and needs commendation.

Ms Gaokgakala Lekgetho, a senior wildlife scout who deliberated on guinea fowl farming permit acquisition was concerned that farmers flaunt laid down procedure on guinea fowl farming.

She said for instance, that although it is clearly explained to farmers that any transfer of the birds or the eggs should not be done without first informing wildlife officers, farmers continue to do this willy-nilly; something Ms Lekgetho said makes it difficult for her office to properly conduct routine monitoring as per the dictates of the guinea fowl programme.

“We also expect you to furnish us with end of year progress reports on challenges, progress made and so on by many of you have not complied,” she said. ENDS