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EXOTIC GOATS BOOST CHIRUNDU LIVESTOCK FARMERS

LACK of exotic breeds with high market value, lack of a breeding centre and market centre as well as good goat management practises are among the major challenges smallholder farmers engaged in goat rearing are faced with. These farmers often lack appropriate knowledge and technical expertise for them to easily attract and penetrate the market with quality produce.

These problems call for various interventions to assist farmers in empowering them with knowledge in a much more structured manner in value chains of their interest. This was the case with livestock farmers in Chirundu, in particular goat rearing.

This situation among livestock farmers in Chirundu became a point of intervention by the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Government. The programme started offering their support in 2020 through Farming As A Business Schools (FaaBS). FaaBS are farmer schools which offer structured lessons on farmer’s commodity of focus facilitated by experts in specific fields. The idea is to impart knowledge to farmers in a structured manner for one farming season. This arrangement allows farmers’ to practically learn by doing in their preferred value chain. At the end of their lessons, the group is assessed for a matching grant in order to support and upscale their value chain.

This approach led to the inception of Mwazoomwa Farming As A Business School in Lusitu area in Chirundu district. Mwazoomwa FaaBS focused on small livestock value chain specifically goats. The major setback was that they did not have adequate knowledge where to source improved breeds and good management in order for them to produce goats of high quality to enable them penetrate the market.

Goat Dipping

Mwazoomwa Chairperson Alick Malunga explained that previously farmers used to rear goats on a small-scale whose market value was very low.

“The market value for goats was K150-K300 which was a low price due to poor goat management and type of local breed,” he said.

Despite farmers’ zeal to rear goats, they did not know where to source exotic breeds neither did they possess knowledge on goat management, coupled with an organised market. This notion birthed the Goat Breeding centre at a value cost of K1.4million, of which E-SAPP approved and financed through the Matching Grant Facility (MGF). The first disbursement K615,000 was released to construct the centre with supporting structures such as manager’s house, two goat structures, classroom and water tank which is now complete. The breeding centre will provide improved breeds which can be multiplied among group members at affordable prices in the farming community and also allow them bargain for better prices.

Improved goat breeds at the Goat Breeding Centre in Chirundu

The group has stocked the breeding centre with first bunch of goats they recently purchased. As at now, they await the last bunch of goats, which are being sourced from outside town, as goats are presently scarce within the district, which is an indication of their high value in the small livestock value chain.

“Farmers have appreciated the construction and operationalisation of the Goat Breeding Centre as it will provide a pass-on arrangement within Mwazoomwa FaaBS to fellow farmers of improved breeds/exotic,” Mr Malunga said.

Chirundu District Livestock Officer, Lloyd Mweemba explained that after farmers were trained on goat management, they started managing their goats very well by crossing them with improved goats whose production was higher and of market value.

Chirundu District Livestock and Fisheries Coordinator, Noah Sinkala reiterates that once E-SAPP phases out, working with farmers through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) arrangement would yield good results as it also complements government’s efforts. This approach will not only further advance an entrepreneurship culture but will also impact on their livelihoods by increasing production, volumes and sales.

Chirundu District Marketing Development Officer, Ernest Koti emphasized that the existence of the breeding centre will help farmers’ sale their goats in an organised manner as opposed to previous years when farmers had no market centre leading to brief case buyers offering very low prices.

The market price range for improved goat breed is K1,200 - K1,500. Currently, the goats have been scarce and being sourced outside town. Follow-up action on sourcing of goats is required to assist farmers advance in their value chain given the prevailing attractive pricing.

In recent years, there is ever increasing demand of improved breeds. As more farmers’ rear these improved goats, their bargaining power will be higher, which is a return on their investment.

Livestock Production Officer Mweemba dipping the goats

With this Goat Breeding Centre initiative, more farmers are expected to benefit from the provision of improved breeds, given their high market value. This approach will contribute to increased production, market linkage and sales. These strides made so far, will require the ministry to clearly map out a spill over strategy to other districts in order to positively impact on farmers’ livelihoods. -NAIS