The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
GOAT farmers should take advantage of goat improvement centres, which have been set up under a European Union-funded programme.
This was said by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos during the official opening of the Rushinga Goat Improvement Centre (GIC).
Completed at a cost of US$24 000, the centre was officially opened in Gwangwava Village in Rushinga on November 10.
The centre was constructed under the Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading and Empowerment (VALUE) project.
VALUE project is part of an EU-funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP), a response to tackle challenges within the country’s livestock sector through financial support from the EU, amounting to €40 million.
Deputy Minister Haritatos urged goat farmers to work hard and become part of the goat production revolution.
“I would like to urge farmers that are participating in these projects to fully maximise the opportunities that have been presented to them by working tirelessly to change the goat landscape, and become part of the goat production revolution in the country,” he said.
Rushinga Goat Producers Business Association (GPBA) business development officer, Mr Regis Kasako, highlighted the benefits that come with the setting up of the goat improvement centre.
“As a community, we are grateful for the support rendered by the VALUE project and the EU in constructing this centre, which has addressed various challenges that we were facing in the district.
“We are now dipping our goats, accessing veterinary drugs, growing fodder crops, and selling our goats collectively and directly to consumers. This has increased our profit margins by at least US$3 per goat,” said Mr Kasako.
The centre offers various services, including breed improvement, dipping, veterinary drug sales, sale of fodder seed and the aggregation of bulk slaughter stock.
