1,600 FARMERS GET GOAT BREEDING TIPS

AN estimated K300, 000 has been invested in a project to link smallholder farmers to commercial breeders in the country by the Private Enterprise Programme Zambia (PEPZ).

Under this pilot project, more than 1,000 farmers have so far been linked to commercial breeders in Zambia.

PEPZ technical advisor Renier Van Vuuren, said PEPZ with support from Breeding Impulse Zambia (BIZ) and University of Africa provided training to over 1,600 farmers in Chongwe, Kafue, Mkushi, Shibuyunji and Kabwe.

Mr Vuuren said the training included sessions on goat production, breeding, business management and market access. Under the pilot, he said, the private sector invested an estimated K300, 000 into the growth of their businesses and sold over K 90,000 worth of rams to smallholder farmers.

Mr Vuuren said in a response to a press query that as a result, about 80 jobs had been created.

He said 1,786 farmers had been linked to commercial breeders who were able to provide the farmers with pure breed or crossed goats.

“Linking of commercial breeders to smallholder farmers adds significant value to the development of the small livestock sector.

“The expertise, resources and networks available through these commercial breeders provides farmers the opportunity to enter the market and grow their business,” he said.

He said the strengthened linkages between smallholder farmers and commercial breeders afforded a crucial business opportunity for accelerated and mutually beneficial scale-up. Mr Vuuren said PEPZ recognised the scale-up potential of these interventions, specifically a continued focus on the development of the breeding industry as well as intensifying efforts around improved aggregation, processing and market development.