Donga Mantung: LIFIDEP to Distribute Sheep/Goats to Farmers

 

Some 31 breeders of the Nkambe Active Youths Small Ruminants Simplified Cooperative, will soon receive 100 goats and 50 sheep from the Livestock and Fisheries Development Programme-LIFIDEP. The goat/goat is multi-purpose animal producing meat, milk, hide, fibre etc.

Doing some certifications ahead of the handing over of the support to breeders in Nkambe, Damasius Ngwa, Divisional Coordinator of LIFIDEP for Donga Mantung prescribed astudness to cooperators, adding that LIFIDEP has instituted Pass On the Gift programme to improve on breeders income and improve production. According to Damasius Ngwa, the contribution of goats/sheep is highly valued and has an important role in feeding the populations, reasons why LIFIDEP has instituted Pass on the Gift Programme to encourage sustainable food chain. In fact, goats are extremely intelligent animals, very agile, and independent, with a high level of resistance to diseases, much better than other ruminant species, he concluded.

Ahead of the handing over the POG to beneficiaries, it is worth mentioning that the animals were dewormed and tagged. The President of Nkambe Active Youths Small Ruminants Simplified Cooperative, Bawe Vincent Ngala expressed gratitude to MIDENO and LIFIDEP for the timely support which he said will go a long way to improve on the welfare of members, provide quality meat to the public and instill modern techniques of breeding. He said the cooperative is made up of 14 youths and 11 women. 

Commonly known in Donga Mantung Division as poor man’s cow, goat/sheep have immense contribution to the poor man’s economy. They not only supply nutritious meat to their children but also regular source of additional income for poor and landless farmers. Being small-sized animals, goats and sheep can easily be managed by women and children. Feeding, milking and care of goats/sheeel does not require much equipment and hard work. Capital investment and feeding costs are also quite low. One of the frontline staff of LIFIDEP remained beneficiaries that goats/sheep can be maintained as cheaply as one indigenous cow. Goats/sheep he added can be successfully reared in areas where fodder resources are limited. Returns on capital of up to 50% and recovery of 70% of retail price are possible in goat/sheep farming. In Nkambe central, goat/sheep farming plays a vital role in providing gainful employment to youths and women. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)