AGRICULTURE and Rural Development Advisory Services (Ardas) has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving goat production across Zimbabwe through the continuation of the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.
The Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme, launched in 2022, is part of the Government’s timely interventions to accelerate Rural Development 8.0, in line with the drive to achieve an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
The scheme aims to distribute 632 000 goats with improved genetics across the country.
Under the programme, each of the 35 000 villages in Zimbabwe will receive one buck and 17 does for distribution to vulnerable families in every village.
Speaking during a recent field visit in Wedza, Ardas Director Mr Leonard Munamati said the scheme is not only about increasing numbers but also about enhancing the quality of goat breeds to uplift rural livelihoods.
“We want to improve our goats and increase their numbers, and the scheme is designed to do just that,” he said.
Mr Munamati said that under this initiative, improved male goat breeds will be distributed to village heads and headmen, enabling controlled breeding with local female goats. This cross-breeding approach is expected to significantly raise the standard of goats in communities, improving both their market value and productivity.
“It’s about strengthening genetics in the villages and giving rural farmers access to quality,” Mr Munamati said.
The broader vision is to decentralise and speed up access to improved goats across villages and households, helping farmers tap into commercial markets while supporting food security and income generation.
With visible success already on the ground, local farmers are now seeing goats not just as livestock but as a sustainable pathway to economic empowerment.
Zimbabwe is experiencing climate change impacts, resulting in droughts, floods, pest outbreaks, food shortages, and increased vulnerability to shocks. In response, the Government, through the Livestock Growth Plan, has increased its focus on building the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change through the implementation of adaptation strategies in the agriculture sector.
Goat species, with their unique browsing potential, adapt to changing climatic conditions more readily than other ruminant species.-herald
