improved farmers practices on goat production and marketing held in Bulawayo

Training modules on goat management and marketing, and new business models developed Article in the New Farmer magazine on experiences in goat auctioning at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair published

For membership or more information, please contact: AGRITEX Adolf Dube 09-887456 abdube07@yahoo.co.uk DARD Joe Sikosana 083-8327 joesikosana@mrs.gatorzw.co.uk DVS Polex Moyo 09-68061/2/3 polemoyo@mweb.co.zw ICRISAT Sabine Homann 083-8311/2/3/4/5 s.homann@cgiar.org ORAP Innocent Moyo 09-208538/208588 innocentmoyo@orapdcc.org.zw SNV Nicholas Nyathi 887004/6/7 nnyathi@snvworld.org

The Goat Forum in Zimbabwe

Capacity building
Mobilized farmers for alternative market options, including information dissemination, association building, dialoguing with market players Trained farmers on production and marketing strategies and on running goat farming as a business Facilitated farmer-to-farmer exchanges and other look and learn visits Established innovation platforms for improved communication between farmers and market players

Division of Animal Research & Development Department of Veterinary Services

Resource mobilization
ORAP received 1.9 million from the European Union for a joint project on improved goat production and market participation for food security and sustainable livelihoods in Zimbabwe

ICRISAT

Agricultural Technical and Extension Services

What is the Goat Forum?

A network among key stakeholders in the goat sector, started March 2006, in recognition that strong partnerships are necessary to develop the goat sector A forum for discussing issues related to goat production, marketing, and policy development and conducting joint activities, sharing knowledge and resources

Vision
Improved farmers livelihoods and economic development through competitive goat production and marketing systems by 2015

How do we operate?
Through continuous meetings, with a flexible agenda, hosted by SNV Through planning and implementing activities by ad hoc task forces in line with the vision and objectives Sustaining membership by interest and commitment

Objectives
Identify opportunities and challenges in goat production, marketing, support services, and policy sectors Develop goat markets and infrastructure, and provide information as well as appropriate animal health and management technologies Facilitate input and service systems based on strong partnerships between public and private sectors

Goat forum meeting.

Informal goat market.

Main target groups

Resource-poor farmers who choose to keep goats to improve their livelihoods Farmers who want to invest in goat production and marketing to regularly supply high-quality goats to the market

Develop capacities of farmers and government and non-government support systems Coordinate and evaluate development interventions Influence donors and policy makers for more investments Source funding for research and development projects

Achievements in 2006/2007
Awareness creation
Baseline report and briefing notes on goat production and marketing, with joint data collection, analysis, feedback to farmers and report writing published National workshop on enhancement of incomes and livelihoods through