Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:53:12 +0000
By Simon Muntemba
THE setting up a taskforce to actualise the agreement with the Saudi Arabian government for Zambia to start exporting a million goats to that country is a good move that will benefit small-scale goat farmers, the Zambia Livestock Marketing Enterprises Limited (ZLMEL) has said.
ZLMEL, executive director Michael Kabesha said that the development would encourage small scale farmers to venture in goat rearing to benefit from the agreement between the two governments.
Government recently set up a taskforce to actualise the agreement with the Saudi Arabian government for Zambia to start exporting a million goats to that country per year.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister, Michael Katambo said the committee which would be chaired by Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roland Msiska would look into modalities of how the exports would be done.
Mr Katambo announced that a team from Saudi Arabia would be in the country soon to finalise the agreement, adding that the Zambian government had already identified several farms that were rearing goats.
He said goat farming was a money spinner which did not only generate income for investors but also a large business opportunity for the locals.
The minister was speaking at Bole International Airport when he transited from the Checz Republic where he attended a bread basket exhibition with his Agriculture counterpart, Dora Siliya.
And Mr. Kabesha said the brokered partnership would help Zambia which has a lot of goats to slaughter and sell to the Middle East where there was demand for goat meat.
He noted that livestock was among other important sectors of the economy which Government has been increasing its investments to enhance its growth.
Mr. Kabesha said the high demand for goats that could be exported was good news for Zambia’s economic growth.
He explained that in Lusaka alone, over 500 goats were bought and sold weekly, while at Kasumbalesa trading centre more than 1,000 goats were transported directly exported to Congo DR.
“The livestock sector especially goat farming is on demand and can easily boost the economy if well managed because at our trading centre here in Lusaka, the market is getting about 500 goats weekly and also in Kasumbalesa we have more than 1,000 goats coming directly from small-scale farmers from all parts of Zambia,” he said.
Mr. Kabesha said it was exciting to learn that the Saudi Arabian government was ready to import goats from Zambia and that his hope was that more women farmers would come on board and benefit from the agreement between Zambia and Saudi Arabia.
He encouraged women and youths to venture into goat rearing to benefit from the agreement between the two governments.
