THE Zambia Goats and Sheep Task Force (ZGSTF) has finalised all administrative works for the facilitation of goats and sheep exports to Saudi Arabia. In January this year, a taskforce comprising of ministries of Livestock and Fisheries, Agriculture, Commerce, Trade and Industry and the representatives from the private sector was formed to develop a roadmap that will help expedite the process of goat and sheep commercialisation in Zambia.
It was also tasked to supply quality products for export to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East.
ZGSTF secretary David Chonde said the taskforce is currently waiting for a delegation from Saudi Arabia to formalise the modalities for the goats and sheep commercialisation process.
In an interview at the just-ended 91st Agricultural and Commercial Show, Mr Chonde said Zambia is also considering value addition after it completes with the veterinary requirements, which is almost at 80 percent done.
“We are at an advanced stage with the implementation of the goats and sheep export to Saudi Arabia. We just want to ensure that we satisfy their market requirement. Most of the desk work has been done and we are expecting the Saudi Arabia team in the country,” he said.
Mr Chonde said the taskforce will ensure that it promotes stakeholders’ participation to enable all value chain players to achieve a fair market share.
He said farmers and other stakeholders have been encouraged to form co-operatives to strengthen their bargaining power.
“Forming big groups will help reduce the cost of doing business and increase the chances of accessing other services such as loans.
“We want this programme to be private sector-driven. Farmers are being encouraged to create strong co-operatives so that they can come up with good business investment plans.
Currently, we are sensitising all stakeholders on the importance of the commercialisation programme,” Mr Chonde said.
Mr Chonde said the initiative will help small-scale farmers penetrate other markets and increase their income levels.
Zambia’s goat population is estimated to be at about 4.8 million and over 150,000 sheep.
What is the con artist PF getting out of this deal…you think everyone is sleep walking…Release HH…
What kind of a country would start exporting livestock with such low numbers, 150,000 sheep against a population of 15,000,000 ati lets export, even the goat population are so low to yhink of exports. These are just lollipops for kudos to suck on, not tangible and such exports can’t be sustained.
Good news to the fired former PF Chief bandit Kambwili.
Can you remember? Mwamoneni!
The former PF bandit & Roan MP confiscated the golf course for his goats. Its not known if the violent & corrupt PF will allow Kambwili selling his goats to Saudi Arabia after being disbanded.
The ZGSTF should encourage dairy farmers wannabes’ like Kambwili who grabbed or helped himself~natolelefye~ the public golf course to be exporting more goats to Saudi Arabia.
Is Kambwili’s goats eating grass at roan golf course ready for export?
The Skeleton Key
~206~
Dweny
Meanwhile fired former PF bandit Kambwili with his fallen out friend, visionless Lungu were yapping about reducing fuel pump prices to K5/ltr.
ERB with visionless Lungu & PF bandits can only manage to reduce 83ngwee at the expense of 3.5% GDP growth?
Imagine lecturers, teachers, doctors, nurses etc are not paid, if so, then its after months in which other salaries have accrued.
This will be a PF~Goat~Gateway syndicate.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
@ ba Divide and Rule: Its the market that will drive production. With such a market, we shall venture into this business. We could not do it because of small market. Let us learn to appreciate and seize the opportunities created.
Useless Shangri-la nonsense iwe ka ken. Fuseki man.
Mrs Goats Sheep Lungu
When Australia waxexpoeting to saudi arabia each ship took 75000 sheep.
Value adding in what way…halaal slaughter. Do we have a good enough refrigeration system to process in zambia, then transport frozen to saudi arabia…..has anyone discussed price before we go further down the path
Logistic are the devil in the detail.. lets give it a go….have we discussed what happens if product is not upto stzndard when it gets there…..it happened to australia……so zambia be very careful
How about a taskforce to remove filth and street vendors!!
Do we have enough goats? Just wondering aloud.
NO, just to take you back after August 11 polls, a goat in Lusaka was going for K900,whatmo we start exporting?
we don’t have enough goats and sheep in the country, we only have enough criminals who are robbing us while we are watching…lol
Department of livestoke and fisheries have you managed to crack the EU beef market ??
Zambians, a people with an identity crisis.
What dressing is that? Why not wear their regular clothes?
What a laughable matter this is. This taskforce is just a sham. Firstly, if indeed the country has only 4.8 million goats, and following the purported MOU signed by Dora, the country is supposed to be exporting 1 million goats a month, its only 4.8 months then all the goats will be finished in this country.
When I was told about the exports, I couldnt hold myself and laughed so loud that the person who told me was left wondering. I was invited to attend Dora’s meeting but declined as I clearly stated that its not going anywhere for the underlying reasons:
Continued…
1. The population of goats does not support exports of such magnitudes
2. There is no infrastructure locally (Abattoirs) to slaughter the numbers indicated.
3. The food regulations in Zambia are far below the Saudi regulations which are based on the USA FDA food regulations.
4. The country at the moment doesnt have the requisite airports, cargo planes (refrigerated) to transport the carcasses of such magnitude.
With the above, can we please be honest and pragmatic so that this country can move forward. I would urge the so called taskforce to first see how the goat market locally and in the neigbouring countries i.e DRC can be enhanced than continue lying to the humble citizens. Zambia the mediocre country!
This has made my day…ZGSTF. Wonders shall never cease under PF!!!
I am surely glad that the cream of the brains remained in Zambia. Unlike Zimbabwe, Zambia has garbage for diaspora; It is evident for the nation to see from the mediocre and vulgar comments above coming from the cowards hiding in the white man’s backyards. Really shameful!!!