30 GOAT MARKETS FOR FARMERS UNPACKED

MBABANE – Are you a commercial goat farmer who has been struggling to secure markets for your produce?

If the answer is yes, then you have all the reason to boost your production in order to meet the weekly and monthly demand of about 200 goats by nearly 30 supermarkets, shops and restaurants.

 
Following a goat meat market survey, the Ministry of Agriculture has uncovered that there is quite a sizable demand for the product across different parts of the kingdom, especially in urban areas.
It was mentioned that applicable price ranges were between E55 per kilogramme and E65 per kilogramme of cold dressed mass or carcass weight.

The goal of the market survey was to identify market standards.
Minister of Agriculture Moses Vilakati said in the quest to empower farmers, a goat production training manual had been developed, approved and fully operational.

Outlines

He said the manual outlines and guides farmers on how to rear and produce goats commercially.
Chapters in the manual include; goat housing, breeding, nutrition, health management, record keeping and marketing.

“A total of 102 pioneer farmers in commercial goat production have been identified countrywide and their training is ongoing,” Vilakati disclosed.
He also said there had been another 110 farmers from Sigangeni, Mpolonjeni, Lokhayiza, Khunutha, Bulandzeni, Manzini and Siteki II diptanks which were trained on commercial goat production.
The topics covered included goat housing, breeding, nutrition, health management, record keeping and marketing.

Export

It should be mentioned that Swaziland does not only short-supply the local market but also fails to export goats meat and other agricultural products to other countries,.
Though total exports by the country in 2016/17 are recorded at E23.9 billion, which is a six per cent growth from 2015/16, the main drivers of export growth were increasing exports of concentrates, chemical products and sugar.

Reflecting

On the other hand, total imports were recorded at E21.2 billion, reflecting a growth of 10 per cent compared to E19.1 billion in 2015/16.
It should be mentioned that the main import commodities were fuel and pharmaceutical products.

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