Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter 

LIVESTOCK experts have called on the Government to formulate a national goat policy, a move aimed at putting in place guidelines to stimulate the growth of the sub-sector and improve its contribution to the country’s economy.

In an interview with Sunday News Business after a media workshop on goat and pork value chains assessments in Bulawayo recently, development consultant Mr Jonathan Kagoro said there was a need for Government to come up with regulatory framework outlining goat production.

“At the moment there is no national goat policy. So, when we don’t have a policy there is nothing that will then drive the sector because we don’t know the priorities, challenges, constraints and what needs to be addressed. So, a national goat policy will set the direction and vision where we want to take the goat sector to. 

“It will also help us deal with some of the regulatory issues that we are finding in the sector. Secondly, it will be a driver for investment into the sector because farmers will know what needs to be done and how it can be done. 

“So, the essence of the policy is to give direction and thrust for the development of the goat sector in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Goats make up the second largest population of domesticated ruminant animals in the country with the national herd estimated to be more than 3,8 million. 

At least 95 percent of the national goat herd is owned by smallholder farmers who rarely breed the goats for commercial purposes despite the fact that the country has potential to export goat products. Mr Kagoro said most farmers were reluctant to sell their goats as they hardly get real value for their animals. 

“According to our (Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading Empowerment project) study the goat off-take is 18,1 percent. By off-take we are saying the number of goats that are sold as a percentage of the flock size that the farmer has. 

“So, what it means in layman’s language is that farmers are not selling their goats and this could be because of a number of reasons but the major one is that farmers are not getting a return for their investment. We calculated the share value of who gets what of a dollar generated and created in the goat value chain and farmers are only getting 13 percent while the middlemen are getting 55 percent, so that acts as a disincentive as it’s better to sell when you have a problem,” he said.

Mr Kagoro said the low goat sales have also culminated in reduced slaughter rates at registered abattoirs.

“The slaughter rate is very low because of the number of goats that get to the abattoirs. Most of the abattoirs are operating below their capacities because they are not getting enough goats as farmers are not willing to sell their animals so their installed capacity is not being fully utilised because they can’t get the supply of the goats they need. 

“There is actually a dilemma in the sector that we have got so much goats in the field, so much processing capacities but these two are not matching because the farmers are not willing to sell their goats. The marketing is skewed so the farmers don’t sell their goats.

“The middlemen (unscrupulous buyers) are taking advantage of the system because they have more information and are more organised than our smallholder farmers.” 

Mr Kagoro said there was also a need to promote the consumption of goat meat as well as adding value to its products.

“Our study found out that most people in the Matabeleland region consume goat milk but if you go to Mashonaland region people shun away from it yet studies have shown that goat milk is more nutritious than cow milk. 

“So, what we recommended in the study is for development partners to start developing the goat milk value-chain, looking at the different products that can be made from there . . . ,” he said.

Michview Enterprises Private Limited technical manager Mr Lindani Ncube said the introduction of a national goat policy would go a long way towards improving the production and marketing of the small stock.

“In a layman’s language a national goat policy is simply a Bible for goat producers, to protect the breeders and markets. It will also bring sanity in the industry by way of providing guidelines so that we move with one vision as a country and begin to pull resources towards one goal. 

“It will also minimise the presence of fly by night businesses that take advantage of an opportunity. Over and above all a national policy will encourage stud breeding and preserve genetics in the country,” he said.

Mr Ncube also noted that the marketing of goats in the country was skewed.

“The selling of goats by smallholder farmers is not organised. They tend to sell as and when they have problems and people take advantage of them because of their desperation. Also, farmers sell old big goats thinking they will make money yet the quality will be very poor. Grading of goat meat as well has to be clear and a policy should speak into it,” he said.

Michview is a livestock company specialising in the supply of goats and sheep for breeding and slaughter.

Together with Zvikomborero Farm, Michview is an integrator in the goat value chain under the European Union funded Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading Empowerment project, which is run under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme.

The two players received 224 goats, which comprised the Kalahari Red, Boer and Saneen breeds from Namibia for breeding purposes. The two integrators are expected to cross these breeds with local indigenous goats and sell them to farmers.

The aim of the project is to improve the capacity of smallholder farmers, especially women and youths, to improve their goat and pig breeds, production and productivity, access to viable markets and organisational efficiencies. 

Michview, which received 114 of the exotic goat breeds is undertaking the programme in six districts in the Matabeleland region namely Beitbridge, Matobo, Lupane, Nkayi, Binga and Gwanda with Zvikomborero Farm overseeing the programme in six districts from Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.