Chronicle Editor
Valencia Ndhlovu, Sunday News Reporter
WHEN people talk of Matabeleland as a livestock region, seldom would one think of livestock in form of goats. Many are quick to think of cattle and justifiably so as cattle form a crucial part of the traditional African family.
But as people go commercial, goats are coming up as a good farming venture with encouraging returns. The climate and natural vegetation in Matabeleland is good for goats too as it is for cattle. Goats can thrive in any environment as long as they have access to adequate nutrition and clean water. However, there are measures that should be taken to make sure goats thrive and how they should be taken care of during the rainy season.
Sunday News spoke to Sifiso Ndlovu Agbetorwoka (53) also known as the goat lady who shed light on how her goat business was doing and how she overcame challenges in her business in Fort Rixon, Matabeleland South Province.
Before she ventured into farming Mrs Agbetorwoka was a mental health nurse. She started her first business in UK in 2008 using her mental health skills and expertise but however moved back home (Zimbabwe) at the end of 2011 to become a farmer.
“I started with broilers, then progressed to horticulture growing potatoes, cabbage, onions and tomatoes. We then experienced a drought in 2018 but however, had to find a way to continue farming. As I was researching on what else to grow, my husband came across a YouTube video of a Ugandan goat breeder who was talking about how goats can be used to raise money to invest in real estate. This video inspired us to get started in goat breeding for meat as well as for breeding purposes. We realised that goats, if managed well can be used to create a good retirement fund and supplement pension funds. Goats are now my passion and core business. I’m on a mission to encourage and support anyone and everyone who wants to start or scale up their goat business. It’s been an amazing journey with pitfalls and losses just like any other business. One of the reasons why I love goats is that they have a faster rate of multiplication compared to cows. With good management systems in place, goats can provide for a healthy retirement fund,” she said.
She said she started doing goat rearing commercially in 2019 although she has been farming since 2012 and haven’t looked back since then. Most people want to venture into the goat rearing business but don’t know how to go about it. She therefore shared a few tips as to how those who are passionate about goats can go about the business.
“The type of goats that one keeps depends on the business model and preference. But typically, one always needs to choose a breed that is well adapted to diseases and climate conditions that prevail in a chosen location. For us the best goats are Matabele females that we crossbreed with Boer and Kalahari Red males. Our business model is mainly for meat production,” she said.
When dealing with goats, she added, one has to know the type of breed they have and develop an understanding of any special needs that they may have, paying attention to the type of nutrition they need. To keep herds healthy one must have deworming, vaccination and supplementation programs for the different seasons. Regular dipping is essential to keep tick-borne diseases at bay.
“You need good management systems for your flush feeding program, breeding/kidding seasons, weaning and separating your young bucks from the rest of the flock to avoid inbreeding which of course leads to stunted growth.
“I teach planning for retirement by investing in goats and cattle as they are inflation proof compared to most saving plans. So those who want to venture into goat rearing can approach us and we share skills and knowledge on how to go about with the business. I offer training and consultancy services and also run special boot camp programs for women who want to venture into the goat breeding business. These are very hands on and take place at Bulembe Farm,” she said.
She shared the different types of medicine that she says should be available at all times and these are anti-inflammatories, wound treatment oils, dips, multivitams, bloat guard, DE wormers and sugar and salt for the treatment and prevention of dehydration. She also noted that it was necessary to provide adequate shelter to protect the goats from rain and strong winds during the rainy season.
“They need daily access to a footbath when they return from the veld with muddy hooves which causes foot rot. Most of our goats are pregnant during the rainy season. Foot rot can compromise their nutritional status as it can affect their ability to walk around the veld to graze and browse. A poor nutritional status can cause abortions. So, we take foot care very seriously at my farm,” she said.
Goats, she added, need weekly dipping during the rains to control tick borne diseases. At Bulembe Farm they use a full immersion dip as this ensures a thorough dipping from head to hooves.
“We have a deworming and vaccination program to keep our herd in good health as the seasons change. We also ensure that we always stock up on copper sulphate, wound oil, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and stress pack as pain causes stress in goats.”
She said her staff were fully trained and were up to date with foot rot/footcare.
“Goats have done a lot for me and my family and as a way of giving back to the community, l co-founded the mental health and learning disabilities action group and friends of Ingutsheni. We visit Ingutsheni Hospital at least once a month with donations. For the past 4 years we have managed to host a Christmas lunch for patients and staff.
“I still wish to see the youth getting involved more in agriculture and understanding it as a very good investment. I’ve had the privilege of attending the Money Soiree and networking with other woman who are in the business field and my wish would be to see more youngsters attending these events and learning more about business,” said Mrs. Agbetorwoka.
Bongani Ndlovu