Poultry farming is a key driver for development in Guinea: all the subsectors are a major source of induced jobs and professional or additional income. They also provide a response to nutrition issues, in particular for animal protein intake.
AFD’s note to the Foreign States Committee of September 2019 defines the objectives of PEFFAG as follows: “In accordance with Government policy, the objective of the project to lay the foundations of the poultry sector in Guinea (PEFFAG) is to contribute to food security and sovereignty in Guinea by significantly increasing domestic production and consumption of poultry products. To this end, the specific objective of the project is to sustainably secure the fundamentals needed for the development and adaptation of the various national poultry subsectors.”
Guinea ranks as the 24th poorest country in terms of its per capita GDP. Indeed, according to the IMF, the country’s GDP stands at $12.6 billion for 13.6 million inhabitants (i.e. $926 per capita, IMF 2019). Agriculture accounts for 20% of GDP (including 4% for livestock farming). In a country where 80% of the population lives in rural areas, it is the main source of income for 57% of households.
Livestock farming is the second largest activity in the rural sector and makes a substantial contribution to poverty reduction and the food and nutritional security of households. It provides incomes and food to over 30% of the rural population.
After eggs, poultry and fish are the most affordable sources of animal protein for Guinean households. In Guinea, as in many African countries, the poultry sector comprises two production systems:
• An extensive system (“village chickens” and other minority species), found mainly in rural areas to secure nutrition and diversify sources of income
• An intensive system, developed especially in periurban areas, mainly made up of laying hens for large-scale egg production and, at the margins, broilers.
• The production of “village chickens”, commonly known as “bicycle chickens”, mainly found in rural areas, but also in periurban areas and cities. Its flock is estimated at between 20 and 30 million head. The poultry is reared in small numbers and free-range around the home. The production is mainly destined for own consumption and for increasing household incomes. Despite a low individual productivity (800 - 900 g of live weight and 40-60 eggs/hen/year), in reality, this breeding today supplies a considerable part of the domestic consumption market. However, the numeric productivity is very low due to the high mortality rate estimated at 80%. This is mainly due to Newcastle disease, but also deaths caused by predators and other diseases.
• The traditional production of minority species (duck, guinea fowl, turkey, etc.) which are niche markets.
The intensive production of eggs for consumption is the main intensive poultry production in Guinea. There are about 600 producers with a total flock of approximately 1.8 million laying hens producing 415 million eggs a year. These eggs are mainly consumed in Guinea, although a part is also exported in the region and in particular to Sierra Leone. Per capita consumption is very low and amounts to about 35 eggs per Guinean per year, while average global consumption stands at 130 eggs per person per year.
Intensive broiler production is very low and still needs to be developed (a few breeders and about 60,000 head in 2018).
Intensive and traditional extensive practices are two socially, economically and financially different systems. Traditional rearing is practised by families to supplement their incomes and to feed themselves, while intensive rearing is a major source of income destined for the market and initiated by investors.
To develop the poultry sector in Guinea, the PEFFAG project has been structured around three main areas of operation.
The objective of this component will be to ensure an optimal level of sanitary protection and rearing techniques for each poultry subsector. It will achieve the following outcomes:
• A sustainable and efficient management system is accessible for each subsector
• The sanitary environment is known and appropriately controlled in each subsector
• The laboratory diagnosis of avian diseases is accessible
• The technical management staff have access to appropriate training
• The breeders have access to appropriate training.
Following the project:
• The quality of the poultry feed for intensive rearing is known by breeders
• Breeders have access to advice on poultry feed
• A regulatory framework is defined for poultry feed marketing
• Breeders in intensive sectors have access to on-going training on feed.
This last area of operation will achieve the following results:
• The infrastructure (slaughter, processing and marketing) is sustainably managed
• The marketing operators are identified and involved in the sanitary policy and development of subsectors
• Sanitary regulations on the import, slaughter, processing and distribution of poultry products are defined and adapted to the context of each subsector then applied
• The consumption of domestic poultry products is actively supported.
