Back to Index

Zimbabwe: Rural farmers stock up on goats
World Vision
November 17, 2004

http://www.reliefweb.int

The livelihood security of 1,600 vulnerable farming households in Matabeleland has improved since the introduction of World Vision's Goat Restocking Project (funded by FAO) earlier this year.

As well as suffering from intermittent drought over the past two years, rural communities in Matabeleland have also experienced extensive losses of livestock, which greatly affected the livelihood security of the majority of communities living in this region.

Thousands of livestock have died due to the combined factors of starvation and drought induced diseases (UN Assessment Report, 2003). In addition, there has been a marked increase in the number of livestock sold to enable farmers to purchase grain.

According to Zwelo Ndebele, WV Agricultural Co-ordinator, assets such as goats enable households to increase their production or income. Asset ownership is also related to a household's ability to recover from a shock, as assets can be used as security when a household needs an income.

"The project aims to improve livelihood assets and make opportunities available to the most vulnerable segment of the population to increase their food security prospects," explains Ndebele.

"In Bubi District, 300 households each received two female goats, and one male for every 20 goats, which means that 10 families will share a male goat," says Robert Ndou, WV Agriculture Officer for Bubi. "The idea is that secondary beneficiaries will each receive two goats from the initial beneficiaries after their herd has reproduced for the second time."

Ndou explains that before distribution took place, all the farmers were required to construct a shelter for the goats that will protect them from predators and harsh weather, and commit to provide the necessary care and management of the goats. Any problems have to be reported to the Goat Management Committee that consists of local representatives.

He says goats are suitable for vulnerable households such as female- or child-headed households and families infected/affected by HIV/AIDS because of their low labour requirements and manageability.

"The goats look after themselves, I don't have to look after them and feed them all the time. I have time to work in my field," says Esther Sibanda (80) from Bubi. "The goats provide me with milk, manure, meat and an income when I sell them."

59-year old Lameck Masuku is very excited about the prospect of buying a cow in a year or two. "I have four goats now, but in two years time I should have more, and if I sell five, I can buy a cow to plough my fields."

The community is very eager to be part of the project and a second phase funded by WV UK, which will also include poultry restocking, is already being implemented.

For more information on World Vision International visit http://www.wvi.org , or contact us at newsvision@wvi.org

Visit the World Vision-Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP