The
project goat breeding stock was received and delivered to Matopos Research
Station, Zvikomborero Farms and Michview Enterprises. The genes (F1s, F2s &
F3s) will be available to goat producers via these institutions.
A total
of 224 goats, which comprised the Kalahari Red, Boer and Saneen breeds were
delivered into the country from Namibia two weeks ago as part of the European
Union funded Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading Empowerment (VALUE)
project, which is run under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP).
The
four-year programme, which will end in 2023 is being implemented by Action Aid
Zimbabwe as the lead organisation in partnership with COSV and Mercy Corps
together with private sector livestock players namely Shamiso and Bradford
farms in the pork value chain, Michview and Zvikomborero farms in the goat
value chain.
The
programme is being undertaken in six provinces namely Matabeleland South,
Matabeleland North, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and
Mashonaland West.
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.
In an
interview with Sunday News Business just after the arrival of the goats at
Matopo Research Institute from Namibia, Michview technical manager, Mr Lindani
Ncube said the programme will play a big part towards improving the
commercialisation of goats in the country.
“What we
are basically doing is improving goat commercialisation in the country. As you
have seen all along, people have not been commercialising the goat industry.
So, we are coming in saying let’s pull our socks, let’s work together and
improve goat farming as a business and you will notice that over 90 percent of
the goats are kept by communal farmers, they are very few commercial farmers in
this industry,” he said.
Mr Ncube
said the two integrators in the goat value chain namely Michview and
Zvikomborero Farm are expected to cross-breed the goats from Namibia with
indigenous breeds for improved genetics.
Michview
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.
“We got
goats from Namibia, which are for the two integrators to breed. They will cross
these goats with the local indigenous goats like the Matabele goats . . . so
that we get a better breed. The offsprings are the ones we will be selling to
farmers . . . it’s not that system of donating because if you donate something
to someone every time, they don’t take ownership. Each district will be having
what we call the Goat Improvement Centre (GIC),” he said.
The
setting up of the GICs is aimed at providing primary business support services
including a demonstration farm offering hands-on training for goat farmers, a
goat Breeding Service Unit in partnership with co-applicant integrators
(Michview, Zvikomborero Farm, the Goat Breeders Association of Zimbabwe and
Livestock Research Stations (Matopos, Grasslands, Henderson).
“We have
got our anchor farmers in these districts which were selected by Government
departments, Agritex (Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services) and
Veterinary. These 1 000 anchor farmers will cascade support to approximately 9
000 farmers giving a total of 10 000 farmers in 12 districts,” said Mr Ncube.