Online Reporter
Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
MORE than 1 500 farmers in Mangwe District are reaping the rewards of a goat breeding programme funded by Goal Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Government, which aims to integrate agriculture, nutrition, Wash (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and business development interventions.
The ambitious five-year initiative backed by the Irish government has identified goats as a crucial component of agricultural development in Matabeleland South Province, particularly in Mangwe District with the aim of improving communities’ livelihoods.
As small ruminants, goats present significant opportunities for income generation due to their adaptability, relatively low maintenance costs and high market demand for their products.
The breeding programme is designed to leverage this potential, promoting sustainable agricultural practices while enhancing the resilience of local farming communities.
Acting District Development Co-ordinator for Mangwe District, Mrs Ruth Sauramba,told Sunday News that the programme is set to benefit the community through increased marketing opportunities for goats, supplementary feeding techniques, enhanced agricultural skills through training and field visits as well as improved extension support from Government departments, particularly Veterinary Services and Agritex.
Mrs Sauramba said the project has benefitted 1 500 farmers including 202 youths through agricultural training and demonstrations in both crop and livestock management.
“We deliberately selected 100 lead farmers, who received F3 generation Boer bucks to kick-start the breeding programme across five wards (5, 9, 10, 16, and 17) in Mangwe District,” she said.
“Each of the five wards was allocated 10 breeding bucks in 2023 and 2024. To date, a total of 360 kids have been born from the bucks introduced in 2023.”
Additionally, Mrs Sauramba noted that 30 farmers have established fodder demonstration plots, for which Goal Zimbabwe provided support.
The farmers are expected to share their knowledge with others in the community, facilitating the adoption of the practices at their homesteads.
“The focus was on farmers residing in the wards, who expressed interest in learning and had a minimum of 10 goats ready for breeding. The programme has already produced 360 kids, some of which farmers are selling to one another, generating significant income. By the end of 2025, we are anticipating that these farmers will see a substantial increase in their incomes, contributing positively to their food security,” she added.
Mangwe District Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr Moffat Ncube, reported impressive outcomes from the Goat Breeding Enhancement Programme, noting significant improvements in production and productivity.
“The programme has achieved high conception and kidding rates, indicating successful breeding practices. The incidence of diseases and mortality rates among the goats remain low, demonstrating effective disease management and care. Overall, these outcomes illustrate the programme’s positive impact on goat farming in the region,” Mr Ncube stated.
“With the goats now larger and more robust, this upgrade in quality has led to higher market prices enabling farmers to generate greater income from their sales.”
