Learn why Theodora Kubaje is hopeful radio will improve her food security

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Theodora Kubaje keeps a brood of guinea fowl on her family farm to ensure her family of seven has access to protein in their diets. Occasionally, she will sell a guinea fowl for extra income to purchase seeds, fertilizer or extra food during the lean season.

Guinea fowl are an important element on family farms across in Kasena Nankana West District in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In northern Ghana, 90 per cent of farmers raise guinea fowl, which are native to the area.

Despite their popularity with farmers, many farmers in Upper East Region have questions on how to improve the health and quality of their guinea fowl broods. Theodora says she needs more information on how to house guinea fowl, what feed to use at each stage of their life, and what drugs to use to keep them healthy.

“A radio program that will educate us on these challenges will help solve food security and increase family income for me and my fellow farmers,” she said.

We have partnered with URA Radio in Upper East Region of Ghana to answer just these questions. URA Radio, which is located in Bolgatanga, will be trained and supported to air a participatory radio campaign addressing the guinea fowl value chain, and farmers are excited.

AyandorAdinda

Ayandor Adinda feeds his guinea fowl on his farm in Natugnia, Upper East Region, Ghana.

AyandorAdinda

Apialore Alagiwugah raises guinea fowl in Banyono, in Upper East Region Ghana.

“A radio program that will address these challenges will help to increase family income and food security in this district and also help me in achieving my dream as the best guinea fowl farmer in the Upper East Region,” said Ayandor Adinda, a farmer who uses guinea fowl in part to support his 13 children.

Apialore Alagiwugah is also hopeful the program will answer his questions about the high mortality and low hatch rates. On average, 70 per cent of keets, baby guinea fowl, do not survive, which affects the numbers of birds Apialore has for food and income. “A radio program that will address these challenges will go a long way to help not only me but all the people who rear guinea fowl in this region and improve their lives,” he said.

URA Radio will also air a Radio Marketplace program to support farmers in improving their income from the sale of guinea fowl. Radio Marketplace programs address market barriers farmers may face and discuss the basics of marketing: place, price, product, and profit.

This is the second phase of a successful project that has already reached 2.5 million farmers in Malawi and Tanzania. The “Radio to improve production and marketing for farmers” project has provided farmers with valuable information on local value chains: groundnuts (peanuts) in Malawi and cassava in Tanzania. Phase two will introduce radio programs discussing the guinea fowl and cowpea value chains to Ghana and radio programs about the legume value chain in Mali.

This project is made possible with funding from the Government of Canada, but matching support is needed from FRI’s supporters in order to bring this program to farmers like Apialore, Ayandor, and Theodora.

Help us provide farmers like Apialore, Ayandor and Theodora with the information they need as guinea fowl farmers.

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