Young Zim farmer taps into Boer goat breeding market
WHEN agronomist Ntandoyenkisi Ndlovu (34) was young, he dreamt of farming specialising in goats, spotting big market opportunities and starting out a venture for goat breeding on a large scale.
All this saw him learning passionately about goats, getting a guide to the different aspects of starting a goat farm and seeking mentorship to become a seasoned goat farmer.
Today, his dream has come true and he has worked hard to realise it.
He is now a renowned goat breeder and runs Gatsheni Breeding Company which specialises in breeding Boer goats in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“It started as a dream or a vision,” said Ndlovu.
“I want to explore ways to industrialise the agricultural sector, especially the livestock sector. My dream is to run a multinational agricultural project in Africa.
“In 2016, after graduating from Midlands State University as an agricultural economist, I had this burning desire to put my dream into practice. I then joined the Municipality of Beitbridge as an assistant farm manager, while at the same time running my personal projects.
“So, I started educating farmers on WhatsApp on fodder production, specifically Bana grass which I introduced to deal with annual droughts that saw the local communal farmers losing thousands of livestock every year.”
Ndlovu says he has always had a passion for farming from a tender age and before getting into full-scale goat breeding he would teach communal farmers in Beitbridge about livestock rearing.
His goal, for some time now, has been to breed quality Boer goats and also sell and supply good products.
Ndlovu says the most crucial step he took was to choose the correct breed for his farming venture.
Goat breeds such as the Boer goat, he says, are well known and most sought after for their superior characteristics such as adaptability, hardiness, good maternal instincts, meat production and high reproduction rate.
The famous Boer goat breed originated in South Africa and has undergone intensive breeding for more than 50 years, making it far superior to any other breed for
meat production.
Ndlovu got to know about the Boer goats after being linked by one farmer while giving an online lecture to the communal farmers on marketing.
“One farmer sent me to buy one buck (he-goat) which I delivered as requested,” he said.
“From there, I started visiting most of the local goat farmers emerging, communal and commercial farmers to learn about goat breeding.
“I even crossed into South Africa to learn more about goat breeding and due to lack of capital my desire remained only on paper.”
The road to starting a goat breeding venture was long and winding.
“I started applying for loans at a number of local banks and getting involved in a number of youth programmes to get assistance to implement my desire,” said Ndlovu.
“I later on decided to roll up my sleeves and hustle rather than rely on handouts since I had good marketing skills. However, that was not enough because, after marketing, people will need to trust you with their money.”
Ndlovu then sought help from Mr Noise Ncube, a church mate, who offered to assist him after supplying goats to his customers.
All this improved his marketing skills, helped to build a clients’ database and earn a commission.
His links to Mr Ncube paid off. After a few months, the two men started supporting each other where necessary and Ndlovu now delivers between 40 and 60
goats at 2-3 months’ intervals to his clients.
“A lot of Boer goat farmers in Beitbridge assisted me a lot to realise my dream,” he said.
“I started with five ewes and one buck for breeding in 2018 and in 2020 after leaving my job at the municipality, I sold 25 for my breeding stock to restart in Vanderbijlpark, Johannesburg, in South Africa.
“Now I have 30 breeding ewes, while I sell to clients to keep the business flowing. Currently, I make R5 000 per month after deducting monthly expenses, this is enough to keep the business flowing.”
Ndlovu started off renting a homestead in Malala in Beitbridge’s Ward 6, and hired someone to take care of the stock, while he shuttled between his council and private jobs.
He said although he was confronted with many operational challenges, he remained focused and determined to achieve his set goals. He then relocated to South Africa in December 2020, where marketing is easier since the Boer goats are originally from the neighbouring country.
“Resources are affordable there if we compare to Zimbabwe currently, and the market is wide because you can supply other neighbouring countries without any issues,” he said.
“At Gatsheni Boer goats, we always strive to build confidence and trust with our clients. The industry is infested with a lot of scammers.”
Ndlovu said on average, an ( ewe), a female goat which is 10 months old, is sold for an average of R4 500, while a buck of the same age is sold for at least R6 000.
He said he always supplied good Boer goat breeds to Zimbabwe to avoid turning the country into a dumping zone of poor quality goat breeds.
The ever-growing clientele base, he said, had been the backbone to running a successful business.
“When we lose one client, we have lost 10 and when we win a client we have won 20 of them so we strive to keep our clients satisfied,” said Ndlovu.
“I am grateful for the support I have received from my family, friends and the entire Beitbridge community, including the farmers who keep encouraging me to do more.”
Ndlovu said he was working on growing his stock to a stage where he can supply the market with 100 breeding ewes every two months in the next coming five years. The road to success is not any easy one. Ndlovu says one must break barriers to their dreams and remain focused to develop entrepreneurial skills for empowerment.
“Building trust and networking is critical,” he said.
“We live in an environment full of scammers and robbers and one must learn to cultivate their passion for a peaceful and successful life.”
Patience and passion are very important attributes for successful goat farming.
“Goat farming is not a get-rich-quick scheme,” said Ndlovu.
“But the rewards are big, the market is big, especially with goat meat. You need to be patient, to be willing to learn and to open your mind to advice and guidance.”