Farmers encouraged to focus on rabbits, ducks, guinea fowls, pigeons to widen livestock production

* Rabbits, guinea fowls and ducks could help improve household nutrition because their meat provides high quality protein and essential amino acids required by the body

By Rhoda Khembo, Malawi News Agency (MANA)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development Government is encouraging livestock farmers to focus on rearing of rabbits, guinea fowls, ducks and pigeons to widen Malawi’s livestock base.

The Ministry’s public relations officer, Salome Gangire said increased production of these livestock can be an alternative source of food and household income.

Gangire added that the drive covers both rural and urban households, where livestock production can provide families with additional sources of animal protein and income.

“Government promotes technical training and extension services for livestock production, including improved housing, feeding and other appropriate production technologies,” she said.

Gangire said the targets — under the National Livestock Development Policy 2021-2026 and National Agriculture Policy 2024 — are 6.24 million rabbits, 3.68 million guinea fowls, 7.04 million ducks and 18.72 million pigeons.

She said government is supporting producers through extension services, research and affordable inputs to encourage profitable and sustainable production.

“Government also supports research and innovation aimed at developing affordable and locally appropriate technologies for non conventional livestock,” Gangire said.

However, urban producers face several obstacles, including inadequate technical knowledge, limited space, expensive feed and housing, theft and inadequate markets for products such as rabbit and guinea fowl meat.

Gangire thus said the solution requires practical training and stronger extension services to equip households with skills for managing the animals as viable enterprises.

“Overall, promoting non-conventional livestock should go beyond simply encouraging households to keep the animals,” she said.

The Ministry would also connect producers with suitable technologies, breeding stock, extension services and dependable markets to strengthen the sector as a source of food, nutrition and income.

Lester Kacheche, food and nutrition officer, said rabbits, guinea fowls and ducks could help improve household nutrition because their meat provides high quality protein and essential amino acids required by the body.

Kacheche said consumption of the animals remains low in some communities because of religious and cultural considerations, as well as individual food preferences.

“Government and partners need to promote production and consumption of these non conventional animals,” he said, adding that increased production could benefit households because these livestock reproduce quickly.

Thus it allows families to consume them while selling surplus production to generate income for other nutritious foods.

Kacheche said nutrition education should be intensified in communities, alongside ensuring adequate availability of breeding stock.