Manicaland Correspondent
Farmers in Chimanimani have transformed goat farming from subsistence to a commercial undertaking after realising the inherent viability of the business. Changing climatic conditions, especially in Chimanimani where crops are beginning to fail dismally, have seen farmers switching to livestock farming, with goats being the preferred alternative.

Since 2016, more than 50 farmers in Chimanimani West’s Wards 8 and 20 have scaled up goat production, with more than a thousand goats having been raised so far. Goats are more tolerant to drought than cattle and are increasingly being used to boost incomes and enhance food security.

Goats feed on diverse plants and have high reproductive rates that allow their population to recover and expand quickly. The price of goats range from $25 to $40 per beast, depending on weight. The goat farmers now want Government and non-governmental organisations to link them with profitable markets.

One of the farmers, Mr Never Matsika, of Gudyanga Village said goats played an important socio-cultural role. He said goat breeders in Ward 20 were scouting for lucrative markets outside the province.

“I am making a living from goat production,” said Mr Matsika. “I started with six goats in 2016, which I fed with crop residue and now I have more than 50. Small livestock have an advantage in that they require minimal investment.

“Goats also play a vital role in our livelihoods by contributing to food security and alleviating seasonal food variability and availability through milk and meat production, and indirectly through cash earned from the sale of their products.”

Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe own more than 90 percent of the national goat flock. Incidentally, close to half of them do not own cattle and complement their livestock resources with goats, chickens, and in some cases, a sizeable number of sheep.

Although goats can accomplish an important cash function, many farmers often do not realise these benefits, as there are no formal markets for profitable trading, while access to marketing information is almost non-existent.