Abstract
In Namibia, goat products are not found in the formal markets include retail shops. This is despite several attempts by the government of Namibia to promote goat products in the formal sector. At household level however, goat meat is a delicacy. This study therefore seeks to provide possible reasons for the unavailability of goat products in Northern Namibia focussing on the supply side of the goat market. A structured survey questionnaire was employed among 75 goat farmers in Ogongo Constituency, Omusati Region in North Central Namibia. The data sought included production, offtake and marketing of goats as well as challenges faced. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data and multiple linear regression was employed to determine the factors influencing offtake rate. The offtake rate (percent of goats sold) was estimated as 2.8% from the data, which is very low. The offtake rate was significantly influenced by age of the head of household (p<0.01), education level of the household head (p<0.01) and marital status (p<0.01). On the other hand, goat production was affected by other challenges such as unavailability of marketing infrastructure, diseases, grazing shortages, and frequent droughts. The implications of these findings on policy include provision of incentives to farmers to sale as well as providing marketing infrastructure. Thus the study recommends the sensitization of communal farmers on economic potential of selling goats to alleviate poverty and to improve livelihoods through income generation.
Highlights
Goats are popular small ruminants kept for meat, milk and hide, manure and traditional rituals as well as to generate cash across the world (Homann, Van Rooyen, Moyo, & Nengomasha, 2007; Koluman & Silanikove, 2017)
Goats can be utilised to control bush encroachment, as a result unwanted weeds can be reduced and promote the retention of the indigenous grasses (Solaiman, 2007). goats have the ability to be raised successfully under diverse and harsh agro-ecological conditions with poor vegetation found in mountains, deserts and semi-arid regions because they are more resistant to drought because of their unique biological and physiological features (Al-Khaza'leh, Raber, Ogutu, & Valle-Zarate, 2016; Yesufu, Kassali, Aremu, & Ojo, 2017)
The study was conducted in Northern Communal Areas of Namibia (NCA) in Ogongo which is one of the 12 constituencies in Omusati region (Figure 1)
Summary
Goats are popular small ruminants kept for meat, milk and hide, manure and traditional rituals as well as to generate cash across the world (Homann, Van Rooyen, Moyo, & Nengomasha, 2007; Koluman & Silanikove, 2017). Goats can be utilised to control bush encroachment, as a result unwanted weeds can be reduced and promote the retention of the indigenous grasses (Solaiman, 2007). goats have the ability to be raised successfully under diverse and harsh agro-ecological conditions with poor vegetation found in mountains, deserts and semi-arid regions because they are more resistant to drought because of their unique biological and physiological features (Al-Khaza'leh, Raber, Ogutu, & Valle-Zarate, 2016; Yesufu, Kassali, Aremu, & Ojo, 2017) In addition their higher reproductive rate allows populations to recover quickly (Van Rooyen & Moyo, 2007)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
